Projected Price Tag Rises For Windmill Island Pedestrian Bridge

HOLLAND (WHTC) – Efforts to construct a pedestrian bridge connecting Windmill Island Gardens to Holland Township have hit a significant bump in the road, but city officials remain optimistic the project can still get done. The City Council learned Wednesday night that the potential price tag for the bridge could top $4 million, well above the initial engineer’s estimate of $2.63 million. Tim Hoffert of the engineering firm Moore and Bruggink says a combination of higher-than-expected construction costs as well as soil samples that found muck as much as 40 feet deep are adding to the cost of building the bridge along an easement Holland Township officials had reached with a property owner. Two other potential pathways for the bridge are being looked at that would result in a cost closer to the initial estimate – one that would go almost directly across to the Boar’s Head Meats property, a second just to the east near Roost Avenue. A combination of donations, state grants, and funding from the city and township are going to project, which is tentatively slated for construction next year. City and township officials plan to meet next week to try to assess options, including whether to consider boosting their funding support for the project.