Vehicles will soon be rolling across Blackfriars Bridge again.
City council approved a staff recommendation Tuesday to re-open the historic bridge to eastbound traffic, pedestrians and cyclists.
The bridge was closed in September 2013 due to excessive deterioration. City staff say repairing the bridge for vehicular traffic will help ease traffic congestion entering the downtown during upcoming road projects. The elimination of westbound vehicular traffic will help extend the life of the bridge by another 30-years.
Fixing the 141-year-old bridge to allow for vehicles comes with a $4.6-million price tag. The bulk of that money will go toward structural repairs, including the installation of a durable bridge deck that would eliminate the need for frequent closures for deck replacement work.
Funding for the repairs still has to be approved during budget talks. If the money is approved, bridge work would begin next year.
