Pedestrian bridge over Man o’ War will connect Lexington’s trails. Find out where
Construction on a long-awaited pedestrian bridge spanning Man o’ War Boulevard began this week to connect trail systems in the Liberty Park and Hamburg neighborhoods.
The construction of the $2.8 million 280-foot federally funded bridge has been more than a decade in the making.
“We’ve been looking forward to this day since 2009 when we started working on this funding,” said Mayor Linda Gorton. “This bridge makes important connections to trails and neighborhoods, making it possible for more people to access the trail.”
Construction of the Brighton Rail Trail Bridge, which will begin near the Liquor Barn on one side and the Brighton Place Shoppes on the other side, is expected to be completed next summer. The completed bridge will connect 4.5 miles of shared-use trails that go through Liberty Park and Hamburg neighborhoods on the west and Andover Forest neighborhoods to the east.
One of those trails, Bright Rail Trail, is Lexington’s first rail-trail, and it is the primary shared-use trail in eastern Fayette County. The trail is used by more than 40,000 people annually, city officials said.
The Man o’ War shopping area is also tricky for pedestrians to navigate. The pedestrian bridge will help connect neighborhoods to the denser, commercial corridor on Man o’ War, hopefully decreasing car traffic, city officials said.
“The bridge will connect the existing trail sections to create a safe shared-used trail option for families and citizens to enjoy,” said Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman Lisa Higgins-Hord, who represents the Hamburg area. “The new connection will elevate the quality of life for all of those who choose to use the trails’ connectivity to access park amenities, shopping, and increased pedestrian walkability.”
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 8:28 AM.
