City gets DOT permits for pedestrian bridge

GAINESVILLE - Work is expected to start early next year on the pedestrian bridge over Jesse Jewell Parkway (Georgia Highway 369) in downtown Gainesville.

The bridge will link the Georgia Mountains Center and a multi-building high-rise complex which is planned on the side of the street where the current city public safety building and a number of privately owned buildings are located.

The state Department of Transportation had to sign off on the project because some of the work will be done on state right-of-way and the DOT had to approve construction of the bridge.

A spokeswoman for the city, Catiel Felts, said the city will not be paying for the bridge up-front. The developer of the high-rise complex, which is to include a hotel, will foot the cost, initially, and is to be re-imbursed by the city once the permit for the hotel is approved.

The city plans to move police and fire department headquarters and municipal court into a new public safety building on Queen City Parkway late this year.