Plans announced for GR Blue Bridge

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The Blue Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids is about to get a makeover.

The Downtown Development Authority Tuesday morning announced its plans for the bridge.

The project has been in the works for a while, and the DDA held meetings to find out what changes the community wanted.

The majority of the public wanted The Blue Bridge to keep its name and look, and stay blue. The Blue Bridge will remain blue, with a fresh coat of the signature paint, according to the DDA.

New lighting will also be installed underneath the bridge, reflecting off the Grand River at night.

New color-changing LED lights will change hue depending upon special occasions.

DDA officials said most of the time that the lights will remain blue, making the bridge stand out 24 hours a day.

There are plans to repair the bridge deck to make the walkway safer for pedestrians.

There is a lot of history to the old bridge, officially named the Grand Rapids Indiana Railroad Bridge. It has been around since 1892, making it the oldest railroad bridge that crosses the Grand River.

The new project will cost about $1.3 million, with the DDA picking up the tab for about $897,000, and state transportation funds covering about $400,000.

Construction should start and be completed by this summer.