Fox Point board votes to replace footbridge

After discussing the issue for two hours, the Fox Point Village Board on Tuesday voted to move forward in the long-running debate surrounding the footbridge connecting Bridge and Barnett lanes. The existing footbridge will be removed and will likely be replaced with a similar structure.

Civil engineering firm Ayers Associates will provide design services for the project, which did not have a firm timeline amid Tuesday's discussion.

The board also went on record, stating that a portion of the cost of replacing the footbridge should be covered through fundraising. There had been discussion of seeking $625,000 in donations, though the amount could be a moving target as the endeavor gets under way.

Throughout the footbridge debate, cost estimates associated with removing the existing structure and constructing a new one have hovered around $1.5 million to $1.9 million. Specific figures will bubble to the surface as Ayers conducts its design work.

In recent months, several residents have suggested the footbridge issue be placed on an upcoming ballot by way of a referendum question, but that proposal was scrapped as part of the board's decision.