Committee approves plan for pedestrian bridge across Augusta Canal

Augusta Commissioners heard more details of a planned pedestrian bridge over the Augusta Canal before voting to accept a $500,000 grant from the state to the city for the project.

Georgia state Rep. Mark Newton (R-Augusta) told members of the commission’s Engineering Services Committee that there are no strings attached to the project and supporters will be looking for donations and other sources to fund the project.

The plan includes a new multi-use trail that begins by the Village at Riverwatch and meanders by the recently dredged Lake Warren to the new 275-foot bridge. There would be an access road to the area and parking available.

Newton, who is spearheading the project, said he’s been looking for ways to make the canal trail area more attractive and more accessible. Now there is no access to the trail in the Riverwatch Parkway area.

The Village at Riverwatch, at the intersection of I-20 and Riverwatch Parkway, has grown into a booming commercial, entertainment, and residential area since it’s anchor store Costco opened in 2011. Newton said more than 1,200 people now live in the Village.

The committee unanimously voted to send the issue to the full commission.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Committee approves plan for pedestrian bridge across Augusta Canal