Covington has received $500,000 in state grants to place a pedestrian bridge across Interstate 20, parallel to the Ga. Highway 81 overpass.

Covington grant writer Randy Conner said the city is still seeking an additional $250,000 in grants to complete the project. Once all funding is secured, the project will be brought back to the Covington City Council for a second approval.

The bridge would be built off site and then placed by crane on the west side of Ga. 81. Foundations will be built on both sides of I-20, but no support columns would be required. The bridge would be made of metal and would be 16-feet wide to allow for all types of pedestrian travel. There are several bridges of this type in Gwinnett County, Conner said.

An additional few hundred feet of sidewalk will need to be added to connect to existing sidewalks along Ga. 81.

The bridge is designed to make pedestrian travel easier and safer, as the railings on the overpass are low. According to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, railings on a bridge with biking traffic should be between 3.5 to 4.5 feet in height.

Conner said the bridge would be a draw for Oxford College students, many of whom don't have cars and would be able to access Covington's commercial corridor more easily.