April 20, 2009

New bridge underway at Little River Falls

By Kevyn Bowling

CHEROKEE-DEKALB COUNTY LINE — Little River Falls is getting a new bridge. Highway construction on Alabama Highway 35 near Fort Payne began April 12. The project will include the building of the new bridge, which will be immediately upstream from the existing bridge. The old span will be torn down after the roadbed is realigned to meet the new bridge.

Work began on the Cherokee side of the river and is expected to take about a year to complete.

Although most people groan when they hear the words “road” and “construction” in the same sentence, this project actually has a beneficial purpose.

“The current bridge has a safety rating of seven out of a possible 100, so visitors will benefit from having a safer road design and bridge,” said Park Superintendent John Bundy.

Bundy said the area will also be more attractive because the new bridge is structured to look like stacked stone, even though it will be made of concrete.

“The new bridge will also have a pedestrian lane with benches for visitors and a metal railing that will allow a better view of the river as it rolls over the falls,” he said.

The realigned road will be located where the existing overflow parking lot is now. To replace the lost space, Bundy says the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has agreed to increase the size of the existing parking lot to make up the difference.

 ALDOT will also install a deceleration lane so motorists coming from DeKalb County side will be able to turn without slowing down traffic.

After construction is complete, ALDOT will remove the old bridge and replant the area to match the surroundings.

“It is important to use local plants and species in the park's landscaping so as not to import bacteria and infections to our park environment or breed out our genetics with imported varieties,” said Park Ranger Larry Beane.

This past week, volunteers and employees of the park “rescued” some of the plants from the area where the new bridge will be built. The plants will be moved to other parts of the park.

The best part about the construction may be that even though some areas will have to be closed – such as under the bridge, upstream of the bridge and the parking lot – there will be no detours while the new bridge is going up.