The City of Aiken would like to see action as soon as possible on one of Aiken's historic wooden bridges, according to Interim City Manager Roger LeDuc.
Around 40 residents, including City staff and City Council, packed into the Municipal Building on Tuesday night to discuss the state of and plans for Aiken's wooden bridges on Fairfield, York and Union streets.
All three bridges have not been modernized since their construction, and the S.C. Department of Transportation has labeled them as structurally deficient.
LeDuc told the Aiken Standard that staff would like to see "action" on the York Street bridge as soon as possible. SCDOT did recommend replacing the York Street bridge with a wooden deck, wood railing and a possible height change.
"We want the height to be limited to preferably a foot or less. But what can the Highway Department do with the structural beams that would have to go underneath it?" LeDuc said. "That's the limiting factor right now. Can they have curved beams? Can they can have composite beams that can be stronger and not as large?"
LeDuc also said, from a structural standpoint, the City was aware the bridges had a "very low rating."
"So they're, according to the state, deficient from a structural standpoint," he said. "So, from the height and the deficiency, that started up the conversation."
Resident Graham Reynolds, who lives near the Fairfield bridge, said not only was he concerned about any retaining wall if the bridge is rebuilt, but the possible decrease in property value.
State Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken, who has been actively involved in discussions with the City and SCDOT, said his understanding from the City and his constituents is that the City and the community would like to keep all three bridges open; the community would like to see minimal impact regarding bridge renovations on surrounding properties; and the community would like for the aesthetics to be kept similar to what they are now.
Young said he and other Aiken County Legislative Delegation members will continue to have discussions with the City of Aiken and SCDOT.
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard. An Atlanta native, she has a mass communications-journalism degree with the University of North Carolina Asheville. Follow her on Twitter @MaayanSchechter.