Vestavia Hills is preparing to build a new elevated pedestrian ramp connecting U.S. 31 to the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, positioned just north of the city's new pedestrian bridge over the highway. The project heads to the City Council on Monday, November 2, when members are set to vote on an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation covering construction of the handicapped-accessible structure.
According to Vestavia Voice, the city's Engineering Department has already completed the ramp's design, and ALDOT has signed off on letting Vestavia Hills build and maintain the structure within the state's right of way. City Manager Jeff Downes told the council in a memo that the ramp will provide a complete accessible pedestrian connection between Wald Park and the library, filling a gap for residents trying to reach the building on foot.
A Second Accessible Link Near the New Bridge
The ramp would sit alongside, rather than replace, the pedestrian bridge project that has been inching toward completion over U.S. 31 between Wald Park and the library. That bridge project is being managed by ALDOT rather than the city, the same outlet notes, and it already includes an elevator tower meant to ensure full accessibility, according to the city of Vestavia Hills' community projects page at vhal.org. Final construction work on the bridge is underway, including landscaping, elevator adjustments, electrical work, and cleanup of remaining punch-list items, per the same city page.
Reported price tags for that broader bridge project have varied between sources. Vestavia Voice has reported a total cost of $5.3 million, with the city contributing about $1 million as project sponsor, while CBS 42 previously reported a projected cost of $4 million, split 80% by ALDOT and 20% by the city. CBS 42 also reported that officials had hoped to select a construction bid in early 2024, well before the current finishing stages described on the city's project page.
Sidewalk Extension Still Planned for Next Year
Once the bridge opens, the city plans to add a $93,100 sidewalk extension toward Baumhower's Victory Grille; construction dates are TBD. The city is coordinating with ALDOT on approval of that sidewalk extension's design, which would tie the bridge into the existing sidewalk in front of the restaurant, per vhal.org.
Debris Removal Agreement Also on Monday's Agenda
Separately, the council will consider an agreement allowing Jefferson County to activate a debris-removal contract with the Alabama County Commissions Association on Vestavia Hills' behalf. The arrangement would kick in only if a federal disaster were declared and the county's own debris-removal resources were stretched thin, the city memo states. Downes said in the memo that a large percentage of the resulting debris-removal costs would be reimbursable by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Both items are slated for the council's regular meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday at Vestavia Hills City Hall. Neither agreement's cost details, contractor information, or construction timeline for the new ramp have been disclosed ahead of the vote.
