The City of Riverton has received new bids to repair the long-closed bridge on Frederick Douglass Avenue, Public Works Director Marcus Lee announced Monday.
According to Lee, the city received bids totaling $1.393 million last week. Officials are now reviewing submissions and aim to select a contractor by the first City Council meeting in March. If all goes as planned, construction could begin as early as this spring.
The bridge, which has been closed since 2022, serves as a critical route for the nearby Lincoln Park neighborhood. Local clergy, whose churches are located near the bridge, say the closure has caused significant delays in emergency response times for the community.
“In case of any emergency at our churches, the local school, or among our residents, ambulance and first responders have to take lengthy alternate routes,” said Rev. Calvin Brooks of Harmony Baptist Church. “This is a major thoroughfare for us, and it is obvious the bridge needs to be reopened as soon as possible.”
Rev. Amanda Turner of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church said residents have repeatedly urged city officials to take action since the initial closure.
“We’ve heard the city say they had the money, only for the process to be delayed again and again,” Turner said. “This time, they’re saying the bids are in and funds have been secured, so we’ll keep pressing to make sure they follow through. We urge every council member to vote in favor of moving this project forward without delay.”
The utility provider, Riverton Water, has cited drainage issues as the reason for the bridge’s closure, while city officials have pointed to structural concerns. The exact cause remains under review.
In a statement to the Daily Tribune, Lee said the bridge repair will be funded through a combination of sources.
“Working closely with our engineering team and by leveraging both the city’s one-percent sales tax and federal grants, we have managed to fully fund the bridge repair project. Thanks to these efforts, we received new bids last week totaling $1.393 million and are now proceeding with the selection process,” Lee said.
Rev. Brooks added that the community is eager to learn more about the next steps. “We appreciate the positive news about the bidding process, but now we’re looking for clear information on what comes next,” he said.
