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Contact: Mandi Toy, 662-680-4017
TUPELO, Miss.— The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public feedback on the John Coffee Memorial Bridge Replacement or Rehabilitation project along the Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway), six miles north of Cherokee, Alabama.
A 30-day civic engagement period will be open from Oct. 25 to Nov. 28, 2022. The public is encouraged to share observations, concerns, and ideas about the project.
“Your participation is crucial in providing a comprehensive understanding of the John Coffee Memorial Bridge and surrounding area,” said Chief of Resource Management Christina Smith, “It could potentially help the project team identify resources and could lead to important additions to the project design.”
Comment Online at:
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/JohnCoffeeMemorialBridge
Additionally, three public meetings will be hosted on the following dates and locations:
1. October 25, 5 PM to 6:30 PM CT via Zoom
Please register for the virtual public meeting at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eWF7TrB9S7mBHxacY5k8Bw
2. November 2, 5 PM to 6:30 PM, in Cherokee, Alabama at the
Cherokee Senior Center (1249 2nd St, Cherokee, AL 35616).
3. November 3, 5 PM to 6:30 PM in Florence, Alabama at the
Florence-Lauderdale Public Library (350 N Wood Ave, Florence, AL 35630).
About the project. John Coffee Memorial Bridge opened to traffic in 1964 but has never undergone a major rehabilitation. Today, the bridge continues to provide access and connections for local communities across Alabama and for Parkway travelers. The bridge, while currently safe, has exceeded its design life and is becoming structurally deficient, meaning the bridge is deteriorating due to time and limitations of the original design, and will soon be limited in load carrying capacity.
The NPS is proposing a range of preliminary options to address structural issues exhibited on the John Coffee Memorial Bridge for compliance with environmental laws. The information will be used to refine the elements and preliminary range of options under consideration, identify issues, and ensure that NPS has the information needed to move forward in the planning process.
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Last updated: October 21, 2022