POLL: 3 in 4 won’t use pedestrian bridge

Will you use the pedestrian bridge planned to begin construction this year?  

Three in 4 InMaricopa readers said they will never set foot on the bridge that will cross the Union Pacific Railroad tracks once it is finished. 

The bridge is part of the city’s Heritage District revitalization project and aims to provide an additional route for pedestrians and bikers. 

800 people voted in InMaricopa’s weekly poll.  

More than 75% of voters — 607 in total — said they will not use the bridge because it’s either out of the way, or they only commute by car. 

“Will there be free cake on the other side?” Reader Samantha Perry teased. “If not, no.” 

With over 400 fewer votes, 17% of readers said they might cross the bridge occasionally.  

Reader Tom Munoz said he would probably cross the bridge only once, “just for the amazing architectural design.” 

The remaining 7% of readers said the bridge would be a part of their daily commute. 

“The importance of this pedestrian bridge has many potential uses for the Heritage District,” Mayor Nancy Smith commented. “However, it’s most important use is for high school students who are currently crossing the tracks on foot.” 

Multiple readers questioned the use of citizen tax dollars on the bridge. 

“For the amount of people that won’t use it, it seems like a considerable waste of tax dollars,” commented reader Craig Williams. “Kind of mind boggling that money gets thrown at this when there are so many other greater needs.” 

The project was estimated to cost around $3.5 million in 2021, but that cost has risen to $5.03 million, according to an agreement the city signed with the Arizona Department of Transportation in September. 

This includes construction and project development costs but could change in the coming months. 

“Construction costs will be updated based on the bids received,” city spokesperson Monica Williams told InMaricopa earlier this month. 

Approximately $2.7 million of the project will be covered by a 2022 federal earmark requested by then-U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran.