Northeast Alabama city eyeing pedestrian bridge over the Coosa River

The City of Gadsden is taking significant steps toward reimagining its waterfront. Officials are currently exploring the development of a new pedestrian bridge spanning the Coosa River, a project aimed at revitalizing the area and enhancing connectivity across the city.

This week, the city received a major boost in the form of a $690,000 grant from Innovate Alabama. These funds are designated to cover the bulk of the engineering, design, and surveying work required to get the project off the ground. Innovate Alabama is a public-private partnership focused on fostering technology, innovation, and small business growth.

A Growing Vision for the Riverfront

While a construction timeline has not yet been set, the proposed bridge is a key component of Gadsden's broader riverfront revitalization strategy. This initiative includes the ambitious Coosa Harbor mixed-use development. The project takes inspiration from Guntersville’s successful City Harbor project, which debuted in 2022. Coosa Harbor is slated for city-owned land off Rainbow Drive—a site that has sat vacant for over two decades.

Additionally, Gadsden is working to secure funding to relocate a 1.2-mile segment of U.S. 411. By shifting the highway away from the river, the city aims to transform the corridor into a pedestrian green space and a new entertainment district.

Connecting the Community

For Mayor Craig Ford, the bridge serves as a cornerstone of the city's "GROW Gadsden" master plan. "When we first put together the GROW Gadsden master plan, building a vision for the riverfront was a major part of it," Ford said in a statement. "One of the centerpieces of that plan is a pedestrian bridge across the Coosa River to connect our downtown with East Gadsden. This project will have effects on Gadsden far beyond being a beautiful place for a walk."

The bridge is intended to bridge more than just the water; it will provide a direct path between a planned downtown hotel and the Venue at Coosa Landing in East Gadsden.

"This will provide another way for people to navigate across our city," Ford added. "It opens up new, safer routes for exercise and travel. We’re making Gadsden more attractive for everyone to want to bring their talents and put down roots here."