The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Hearing set on proposal for bridge
By Sue G. Collins, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 10, 2007
It was Saline River Drive versus Torwood at the last public forum held more than a year ago to look at possible construction of a bridge over Mill Pond, meant to connect the west and east sides of Saline. Residents of the two subdivisions argued about the usefulness, security, parking and access of the proposed single-span pedestrian bridge.
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The neighbors in Torwood, a development of 230 homes off Austin Road, generally commented that the foot bridge would provide a convenient and safe route for walkers and cyclists to get to and from downtown Saline, the library and schools. Currently, they say, kids are forced to commute via a dangerous and unsightly sidewalk along busy Michigan Avenue once they cross at the perilous Austin Road intersection.
Stonecliff subdivision neighbors, who live along Saline River Drive, said they enjoy the peaceful access to Stonecliff Park and don't believe a path leading from their sidewalk down to the bridge will be safe, patrolled or would even be necessary.
The Saline Parks Commission, whose job it is to review such citizen input, digest engineering studies and crunch through budget concerns before making a recommendation to City Council, will again host a public forum on the issue 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
At last year's forum, Paul Borger, a Torwood Neighborhood Association board member, said that discussion about such a bridge has been heated among neighbors in the past.
"... So, we did an informal e-mail survey of 78 percent homeowners where 43 percent responded. Of that, 95 percent were in support of a bridge and considered it a safe proposition, giving us better access to Mill Pond Park," he said.
Saline River Drive area residents Tom and Diane Tew shared results of their own informal survey.
"Of the 45 homes on Saline River Drive and the cul de sac, 39 responded and 82 percent voiced concern. We have a petition now with 90 percent of our neighbors opposing the bridge," Tew said. "The main objection is cost, using such a large amount of money for something used by a small percentage of the community."
The engineering firm of Tetra Tech Inc. of Ann Arbor presented the parks commission in February with a 17-page study of the proposed project and recommended two different plans. The document is available online at www.city-saline.org.
In a memorandum to City Council, presenting Tetra Tech's quotes and options, City Manager Larry Stoever said the project is eligible for up to 50 percent funding through the DNR and may qualify for other recreational grand funding.
There are two options for comparison.
The cheapest alternative, including a gravel pathway and a 6-foot-wide bridge, would cost roughly $236,000.
The 80-foot-long single-span bridge would cross the Saline River from the peninsula accessed by crossing the existing wooden Bowley Bridge and trekking through the woods at the northwest edge of Mill Pond Park. This peninsula option, nestled within the trees, would be in keeping with the rusticity of the park.
The second option is a longer, 120-foot single-span bridge crossing the narrowest point of Mill Pond.
Both bridges would be constructed from prefabricated steel truss with unpainted weathering steel, ironwood decking and vertical pickets on the inside of the railing.
An 8-foot-wide option could be considered, at an additional cost that would allow greater safety for people and bikes to pass, while also accommodating city maintenance equipment.
The bridge recently replaced at Curtiss Park cost the city $172,000.
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