Jefferson City plans to remove some brush from Adrian's Island as it continues working toward a riverfront bridge and park.
The Jefferson City Housing Authority Board of Commissioners approved Jefferson City's license request Tuesday, allowing the city to send workers to the island to remove brush and river debris. The Housing Authority owns Adrian's Island, but the city must pay for any expenses relating to work done on the island, Housing Authority Executive Director Cynthia Quetsch said.
City officials plan to construct an 826-foot bridge leading down to Adrian's Island, 30 acres between the Missouri River and Union Pacific Railroad tracks and stretches from the Missouri state Capitol to the former Missouri State Penitentiary. They plan to create a park on the island.
"We're very excited about the potential, and we're looking forward to making this happen," Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin told commissioners.
The Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate both approved an amended bill that proposes donating 0.19 acres between the Senate garage and Veterans Memorial to Jefferson City in March, sending it to Gov. Eric Greitens for final approval.
Since the bridge would go over the Union Pacific railroad tracks, officials plan to construct four railcar replicas that would contain walking museums on the bridge to attract sponsors to the project.
The estimated cost for the project is about $4 million, Tergin said.
An ad hoc committee has raised about $2.3 million, with $1 million of that a donation from local philanthropist B.J. DeLong, Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce President Randy Allen previously said. DeLong's stipulation for the donation is it go toward riverfront access.
The island has flooded five times since 2000, Todd Kempker, project manager with Bartlett & West, has said previously. The city does not plan to place permanent structures on the island.