The Hopkinsville Greenway pedestrian bridge reopened Thursday following an engineer’s inspection, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tab Brockman said in a press release.
The bridge that spans Country Club Lane and LaFayette Road was closed Wednesday as a precaution after city officials were made aware of cracks in the bridge’s retaining wall.
“The reported cracks on both sides of the decorative block retaining walls on the north end bridge ramp were attributed to probable base fill compaction issues during construction in 2020,” Brockman said. “During construction the retaining walls are poured separately and after the bridge footers, which reach much deeper in the ground. The retaining walls do provide cosmetic appeal and wash-off prevention on the steep side banks of that location.”
An engineer with Scott & Murphy, the Bowling Green contractor that installed the bridge, inspected the structure on Wednesday, Brockman told Hoptown Chronicle.
“The engineer consulted the Scott & Murphy construction plans on the actual project to confirm differentiation between bridge footers and the walls,” he said in an email.
Brockman said city officials will work with the contractor to determine how to “firm up” the retaining walls.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
