Pinhook Creek flood mitigation, pedestrian bridge move forward

HUNTSVILLE – With a big push coming out of the last legislative session from State Rep. Rex Reynolds, flood mitigation measures along Pinhook Creek in Huntsville are nearing a start.

Reynolds (R-Huntsville) was the driving force in securing $5 million in state funding for the Pinhook Creek flood mitigation and revitalization project in the downtown area. This part of the project runs from just north of Holmes Avenue to south of Memorial Parkway and Governors Drive. 

“There are many elements to this project, and we are happy to move closer to a start date,” Shane Davis, director of Urban & Economic Development, said during a presentation to the Huntsville City Council at last week’s regular meeting. “In particular, the flood mitigation measures have been studied for decades and are a critical issue to be addressed.

“The city would also like to thank State Rep. Rex Reynolds and the State of Alabama in providing $5 million toward the project. Their awareness of flooding issues in the area and their willingness to help is greatly appreciated.”

The project includes plans to construct a suspended pedestrian bridge across Memorial Parkway.

The city entered into an agreement with the Federal Highway Administration and the Alabama Department of Transportation to receive $47.3 million in two federal grants for the Pedestrian Access and Redevelopment Corridor (PARC) project. The grants were previously awarded to the city, but the ALDOT agreement provides the mechanism to access these funds.

Components of the PARC project include:

• 1.2 miles of linear park space
• 5,600 feet of Pinhook Creek channel excavation
• 3,200 feet of low-flow channel along Pinhook Creek
• 6,000 linear feet of greenway
• Three precast pedestrian bridges over Pinhook Creek
• One concrete railroad bridge replacing the wooden bridge adjacent to Heart of Huntsville Drive
• 1,400 feet of pedestrian cable suspension bridge

With the execution of the funding agreement, the city will immediately begin working to finalize and update the construction plans to prepare the project permitting and bidding. The project will be constructed in four phases.

The first phase of the project will be the Pinhook Creek improvements with work projected to begin by the end of the year. Construction is expected to take 24 months to complete.