There’s a Petition to Turn Bismarck’s Train Bridge into a Pedestrian Bridge
As previously reported, Bismarck's famed train bridge may be replaced. One individual has an idea of what to do with the old bridge.
According to the Bismarck Tribune, it hasn't yet been decided if they will take the old bridge down when they build a new one.
One Bismarck resident has created a petition on Change.org to turn the current bridge into a pedestrian bridge where residents can walk, run, bike etc.
According to the petition:
One of the most iconic sights in the Bismarck-Mandan community, the current railroad bridge, is set to be replaced in the coming years. The bridge has been declared structurally sound, and while a new bridge should be constructed for rail traffic, the current bridge should be converted into a pedestrian and bike bridge, with opportunities to create a shared green space and park between the communities of Bismarck and Mandan.
As of this posting, the petition has 402 signatures.
Personally, I think this is a fantastic idea. It allows the iconic bridge to remain but you can just replace the tracks with some pavement.
Right now pedestrians can cross from Bismarck to Mandan on the Memorial Bridge but it is a narrow space and the path exists only on one side of the bridge.
A new bridge just for pedestrians would give walkers, runners, and bikers another option while also being safer since there won't also be automobile traffic.
It should be noted that the train bridge is owned by BNSF so ultimately they will have the final say on what to do with the bridge. They did mention to The Bismarck Tribune though that they wanted community feedback.
It would be a cool gesture for BNSF to turn over the bridge to the cities of Bismarck and Mandan to allow them to turn it into a space for pedestrians.
You can sign the petition here.