West Columbia is closing in on final design approval for a pedestrian bridge that would stretch nearly 1,085 feet across the Saluda River, linking the city near the Botanical Gardens entrance of Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens to Columbia's existing Riverwalk. The project is now in its final stages of design, with plans currently under review, according to the project website.
A Decades-Old Vision Takes Shape
The idea of a pedestrian crossing in this stretch of the Saluda has been floating around for decades. As far back as 2014, The State reported that the bridge concept had been in the works since 1996, and an earlier version of the plan near I-26 stalled out after Columbia never signed off and financing for the Lower Saluda Greenway fell apart, per a separate 2012 report from the same outlet. That earlier long-range vision imagined giving walkers a choice at the end of the bridge, toward the zoo and Columbia on one side, and toward Saluda Shoals Park and the Lake Murray dam on the other, The State reported at the time.
The current proposal, reported by Cola Daily, would be a collaboration between West Columbia and Columbia to give residents recreational access to the Riverwalk on the Columbia side, according to the Post and Courier. The bridge itself is planned to be 12 feet wide and ADA accessible, built to accommodate walkers, runners and cyclists alike.
Overlooks, Boardwalks and Mill Ruins
Beyond the main span, the project includes boardwalks providing access to both sides of the river, four scenic overlooks, and a new walking trail with a boardwalk that would pass over the old Saluda mill ruins. West Columbia's side of the river would also see site improvements, including a new paved driveway running from Mohawk Drive to the bridge access point, a new parking area and a restroom facility. Earlier renderings shown to the West Columbia City Council, as covered by West Metro News, described a park access area with parking and restrooms, plus covered overlooks of the river.
Cost estimates for the project have varied in past reporting. The Post and Courier described a separate pedestrian bridge across the Broad River as a nearly $6 million project, while WIS-TV reported the Saluda River bridge as an $8.5 million undertaking to be shared by Columbia and West Columbia, calling it mutually beneficial for both cities. Timelines have shifted too: the Post and Courier once reported the bridge was on schedule for a 2025 completion, while WIS-TV reported the project was expected to take two years total, covering final planning, permitting and construction. By mid-2024, the Post and Courier had reported the design was roughly 60 to 70 percent complete, and no construction had begun as of that reporting.
Permits, Public Comment and What Comes Next
West Columbia has submitted the necessary documents to FEMA and other agencies, according to the project website. Past reporting from the Post and Courier indicated that once design work wrapped up, the permitting process could take roughly nine to 12 months and require sign-off from FEMA, state and county agencies. Separately, South Carolina's Office of Resilience has noted that Executive Order 12898 requires FEMA to provide an opportunity for public participation in planning activities proposed in a floodplain, and to weigh potential impacts on minority or low-income populations, according to the South Carolina Office of Resilience.
For now, the current public notice period on the project runs through November 7, and citizens can submit comments on the proposal. West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles said the city is working with stakeholders to incorporate input into the pedestrian bridge and access design, per Cola Daily. Approvals are expected by late spring 2027. Miles added that the city considers its rivers important assets whose health and beauty should be maintained as public access expands.
Comparable bridge projects elsewhere in South Carolina illustrate just how much costs can swing depending on design and scope. Hanahan's proposed Community Connection Pedestrian Bridge, which would include a 2,360-foot timber boardwalk and a roughly 400-foot main span, carries an estimated cost of more than $26 million including contingency, according to the City of Hanahan. The city has also proposed a Noisette Creek pedestrian bridge in North Charleston. Engineering firm Thomas & Hutton has estimated that a similar bridge could run $15 million to $18 million depending on alignment and design choices, per the same city document.
