Renwick St. Cross Walk

Local motorists traveling on Hwy 165 near Renwick St. in Monroe cannot miss the ongoing changes on the walkway bridge that serves as a corridor for students who attend nearby Carroll Jr. and Carroll High Schools. The bridge has been seen as an eyesore and even a danger to pedestrians for decades because of its age and neglect. Over the last several months, that outlook is changing. The bridge is undergoing a new makeover in repairs and cosmetic changes like new colors that will recognize one of the area's premier schools. It has been a long journey to refurbish the bridge over the years, with pleas from community leaders seemingly falling on deaf ears. All changed when the city of Monroe and the Louisiana Department of Transportation partnered to restore the bridge to what it once was. District 3 City Councilwoman Juanita Woods had been leading efforts to not only begin work on the bridge (in her community), but she also wanted to honor her alma mater, Carroll High School, by having the bridge painted in the school's blue and gold colors.

While the bridge will undergo a new paint job, there have been some serious safety concerns regarding the bridge, as expressed by Woods and community activists. Because of the bridge's age, weather conditions, and usage, there appeared to be cracks and holes found on the bridge, which city officials have said are being addressed. City Engineer C. Morgan McCallister said that another party had done a structural inspection and that those issues (holes and cracks) are being looked at, and the city has plans to address them. McAllister said there was no need to do structural modifications or upgrades. Since the bridge is for pedestrians, McAllister said that it would be "grouting of the cracks and filling of the holes" with a sealer in place, followed by a "final seal" and painting, resulting in a "brand new" walking deck. The cost to bring the bridge back to what it once was is about $800,000. Woods says that the bridge's safety was a concern of hers but that the deaths of adults and especially children on bicycles were just as concerning. After hearing from the city engineer, she feels confident that the bridge will be safe after all the work is complete. According to Mayor Friday Ellis, the bridge will read "Carroll Bulldogs" and have the Bulldog emblem in the center of the bridge. The other side of the bridge will read "City of Monroe" with the new city logo. The project is scheduled to be completed in November if all goes well.