STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Discussion of two ongoing downtown construction efforts resurfaced during Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Glasgow Finance Committee. City officials provided updates on the pedestrian bridge leading to the downtown parking structure and the retaining wall along West Main Street.
The pedestrian bridge connecting Glasgow’s public square to the parking structure that runs between Subway and the Barren County Clerk’s office has already faced rising costs after bids came in far higher than the original estimate discussed during last month’s meeting. Now, the project has encountered another roadblock — securing an easement needed to bring demolition equipment into the area.
As previously reported, the lowest bid for demolition and reconstruction of the bridge came from Adams Contracting, LLC at $697,026, well above the original $401,000 estimate prepared by the engineering firm Qk4.
At last month’s meeting, committee members discussed splitting the project across two fiscal years, with roughly $80,000 in demolition costs coming from the current budget and construction expenses covered in the following year’s budget.
However, Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse said the timeline may shift further while the city works to obtain an easement from a nearby property owner.
“We are working with one of the property owners, so that we can bring a crane in there and use that to take down the walkway,” Royse said. “We are working on getting the easement from that property owner.”
Without that access secured, the project will likely need to move into the next fiscal year’s budget cycle.
“I hate that because we need that connection to the parking structure,” Royse said. “But it is too unsafe to open up that walkway.”
While the pedestrian bridge project faces delays, work on the retaining wall along West Main Street is expected to move forward under this year’s budget.
The wall has been identified by officials as part of ongoing efforts to address aging infrastructure downtown. Bids for that project were previously reviewed by the committee, with the lowest submitted by Outdoor Specialties & Landscaping, LLC.
Royse also provided an update on American Legion Park, with focus on a water pressure issue.
“We met with the water company yesterday. They’ll run a test where they’re going to turn it on and measure it,” Royse said. “That’s the only thing stopping from predicting the date, quite honestly.”
The committee also briefly discussed preparations for the city’s upcoming budget process. City Treasurer Victoria Simmons noted that this will be her first budget cycle since taking on the role.
“Everyone’s been super organized, and I’ll brag on the department heads,” Simmons said. “They know their stuff. … I’ve been really impressed by everybody.”
Finance Committee chairman Terry Bunnell asked Royse about priorities heading into the next fiscal year’s budget, with the mayor noting the pedestrian bridge could account for a “large chunk” of that spending.
“We’ve got to get it fixed,” Royse added. “Because this has been dragging on far too long.”
Royse also noted that Qk4’s original estimate for the project — roughly $300,000 — came in far below the bids received, which approached $700,000.
Bunnell said the committee is currently working within a budget of roughly $34 million. Aside from the bridge project, he added that ongoing construction efforts are expected to be financially wrapped up by June 30.
The committee’s next scheduled meeting is April 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Key Facts:
• Glasgow’s downtown pedestrian bridge project is delayed as easement talks continue with a nearby property owner.
• The lowest bid for the bridge demolition and reconstruction is about $697,026, far above the original $300,000 to $401,000 estimates.
• Officials expect most bridge costs to shift into the next fiscal year’s roughly $34 million city budget.
• A retaining wall project along West Main Street is expected to move forward under the current budget.
• American Legion Park work is on hold pending water pressure testing by the local water company.
Gage Wilson with Glasgow News 1 contributed to this reporting.
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