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After hitting a few road blocks, it looks as though new plans for the Roubidoux Bridge and surrounding area could be moving forward as early as spring.
“I think we’ve come up with a good alternative solution to some of the problems we have encountered,” City Manager Bruce Harrill said.
The original scope of the project, funded in part by a MoDOT enhancement grant, included placing 12 lights along the Roubidoux Bridge.
MoDOT raised concerns about the project, which would require drilling into the bridge’s pillars to place the lights.
“What they’re concerned about is drilling 36 inches into these pillars and we don’t know what’s really in it,” Luge Hardman, Waynesville councilwoman, said.
Additionally, finding a light stand that won’t hang over the edge of the pillars raised aesthetic and price questions.
Hardman said that in order to install the vintage fixtures as planned, engineers would have to move their drilling even farther over to the edge.
She shared that such an endeavor would require special work, and that there are approximately two companies in the state that could handle it, making it cost prohibitive.
The State Historical Preservation Office also voiced concern about the bridge’s integrity. Built in 1923, the bridge is an original Route 66 structure.
After examining all of the issues, and looking at a similar project in Eminence that has led to cracking and repairs, a new proposal was hatched out and city officials hope it will be one the public will like.
“We are bringing the Down Town Square project into our MoDOT enhancement project,” Hardman said.
Lights are still planned with the project, only they’ll be placed along the north side of Benton Street down to the bridge. The bridge itself won’t have any lights installed on it. However, the proposal includes placing four larger lights — two at each end — on both sides of the bridge.
Charli Hartley, who has been involved in fundraising matching monies for the lighting project, said she was worried when she first found out the lighting project wasn’t going to be feasible as planned.
“I wasn’t ready for a ‘no’ answer,” Hartley said. “I’m so happy that Bruce Harrill and Luge Hardman pursued it with the engineers and came up with an alternative.”
Now, the original donations will be able to be honored, and Hardman said there will likely be at least 12 lights going up.
“And we may end up with more,” she said.
Other changes to the original project have been made as well.
The parking area in Laughlin Park was scheduled to have asphalt improvements and include parking for 15 vehicles and two handicapped spots.
Now, funding set aside for the parking area will be used to help refurbish the bridge. Hardman said the parking project was removed from the grant’s scope because MoDOT doesn’t build city streets.
“What we’re really doing is keeping the Route 66 bridge in its original form, cleaning it up a bit and refurbishing it,” she said.
The extensive work to the bridge encompasses sandblasting and repairing the curbing and sidewalk.
New sidewalks along Historical Route 66 will connect a walking path to the Roubidoux Walking Trail and lights will also be installed at certain parts along the trail in the main park.
Hardman said the city has wanted to add lights to the trail for quite awhile, but because it fit “so perfectly” with the enhancement grant, they’ve waited.
An interpretative walking tour will lead visitors to the Trail of Tears encampment in Laughlin Park, near Roubidoux Spring, and a new sign will mark the park’s entrance.
Though the picture includes several smaller elements, at its heart is the Roubidoux Bridge.
“That bridge, everybody remembers it,” Hartley said. “You had to cross that bridge to get from one end of town to the other.
“I grew up here... and that bridge was something special.
“There’s just so much to offer in Waynesville that nobody else has,” she said.
Once completed, the project will total about $250,000 in grant monies, matching funds and in-kind work.
After hitting a few road blocks, it looks as though new plans for the Roubidoux Bridge and surrounding area could be moving forward as early as spring.
“I think we’ve come up with a good alternative solution to some of the problems we have encountered,” City Manager Bruce Harrill said.
The original scope of the project, funded in part by a MoDOT enhancement grant, included placing 12 lights along the Roubidoux Bridge.
MoDOT raised concerns about the project, which would require drilling into the bridge’s pillars to place the lights.
“What they’re concerned about is drilling 36 inches into these pillars and we don’t know what’s really in it,” Luge Hardman, Waynesville councilwoman, said.
Additionally, finding a light stand that won’t hang over the edge of the pillars raised aesthetic and price questions.
Hardman said that in order to install the vintage fixtures as planned, engineers would have to move their drilling even farther over to the edge.
She shared that such an endeavor would require special work, and that there are approximately two companies in the state that could handle it, making it cost prohibitive.
The State Historical Preservation Office also voiced concern about the bridge’s integrity. Built in 1923, the bridge is an original Route 66 structure.
After examining all of the issues, and looking at a similar project in Eminence that has led to cracking and repairs, a new proposal was hatched out and city officials hope it will be one the public will like.
“We are bringing the Down Town Square project into our MoDOT enhancement project,” Hardman said.
Lights are still planned with the project, only they’ll be placed along the north side of Benton Street down to the bridge. The bridge itself won’t have any lights installed on it. However, the proposal includes placing four larger lights — two at each end — on both sides of the bridge.
Charli Hartley, who has been involved in fundraising matching monies for the lighting project, said she was worried when she first found out the lighting project wasn’t going to be feasible as planned.
“I wasn’t ready for a ‘no’ answer,” Hartley said. “I’m so happy that Bruce Harrill and Luge Hardman pursued it with the engineers and came up with an alternative.”
Now, the original donations will be able to be honored, and Hardman said there will likely be at least 12 lights going up.
“And we may end up with more,” she said.
Other changes to the original project have been made as well.
The parking area in Laughlin Park was scheduled to have asphalt improvements and include parking for 15 vehicles and two handicapped spots.
Now, funding set aside for the parking area will be used to help refurbish the bridge. Hardman said the parking project was removed from the grant’s scope because MoDOT doesn’t build city streets.
“What we’re really doing is keeping the Route 66 bridge in its original form, cleaning it up a bit and refurbishing it,” she said.
The extensive work to the bridge encompasses sandblasting and repairing the curbing and sidewalk.
New sidewalks along Historical Route 66 will connect a walking path to the Roubidoux Walking Trail and lights will also be installed at certain parts along the trail in the main park.
Hardman said the city has wanted to add lights to the trail for quite awhile, but because it fit “so perfectly” with the enhancement grant, they’ve waited.
An interpretative walking tour will lead visitors to the Trail of Tears encampment in Laughlin Park, near Roubidoux Spring, and a new sign will mark the park’s entrance.
Though the picture includes several smaller elements, at its heart is the Roubidoux Bridge.
“That bridge, everybody remembers it,” Hartley said. “You had to cross that bridge to get from one end of town to the other.
“I grew up here... and that bridge was something special.
“There’s just so much to offer in Waynesville that nobody else has,” she said.
Once completed, the project will total about $250,000 in grant monies, matching funds and in-kind work.
