Greenway project nears completion

The Trussville Greenways project has been a long, ongoing process. In fact, the federal grant was received 17 years ago in 1998. This coming summer, however, the project is expected to be completed. Doubters will likely be skeptical, but the new contractor has a proven track record.

Demolition and construction on the project has already begun, following a meeting with Alabama Department of Transportation representatives, city officials and project managers at the end of 2015. The project has a time frame of 180 working days. Working days are considered Monday-Friday with permitting weather.

The project, which is funded by a federal grant administered by ALDOT, is for walking trails and lighting that will connect several city parks along the Cahaba River, including the Trussville Sports Complex.

In 2013, the last contractor to work on the project was unable to complete the project within the 180-day timeframe. In 2015, Walker Patton Contracting was awarded the bid on the project. The entire project cost $1.7 million. The city paid its share of $900,000 in October of this year.

“This project has been a nightmare,” Trussville Mayor Gene Melton said. “I don’t know that we’ll ever do another federally-funded project again.”

In 2012, then-City Council President Brian Plant said, “It’s the most frustrating project that we have ever been involved with. It’s our city, it’s our park and we have absolutely no control over the construction. I would have to seriously consider whether or not it is worth ever pursuing another grant like this.”

Walker Patton is the same contractor who finished the work at the Veteran’s Memorial, and is familiar with the project and the issues. Representatives from the company were very confident during the pre-construction meeting last month that work will be completed within the timeline given.

At this point, however, other projects could become a hindrance.

Melton said he would have to carefully watch the library expansion project.

“The two projects back up to one another, and we’ve got to keep an eye out so that one doesn’t mess with the other,” he said. “We’ve got a lot going on right now, and keeping everybody going is the key.”

The first phase of the current project is to remove the current sidewalks and to layout the project. The pedestrian bridge and sidewalks will be completed and then lighting will come before the landscaping.

The contractors also have to figure out how to protect a nearby archaeological site and the stone that is to be laid along the riverbank.

The original plans call for “native stone” to line the banks of the Cahaba River, but there is not enough stone to make that happen. There will have to be stone brought into the final design, although there could be some native stones mixed in.

Melton was sure to mention the color of the sidewalk should match the color of the sidewalks at Civitan Park. The contractor noted he understood, but the color would not be exactly the same in the beginning due to weather wear on the concrete at the park.

“We don’t want this project to look like it was just thrown together,” Melton said. “This has got to be done right.”

After 17 years of waiting, the citizens of Trussville are hesitant to accept promises, but this time the city, ALDOT and other officials are confident in the abilities of the contractor to finish.

Resident David Nix said he was hesitant to believe the project will be completed.

“It’s a disaster,” he said. “I’m not optimistic just because of the past.”

Several other citizens echoed that sentiment.

Jef Freeman of Downtown Redevelopment said he was hopeful the project would be completed because of its economic impact.

“When the Greenway is finished, it will assist us in recruiting developers to downtown Trussville,” Freeman said.

The mayor agreed, and added the project will be something Trussville residents will be proud of when it’s finished.

“By the end of the summer in 2016, we are going to have a beautiful place right here in Trussville,” Melton said.