A stretch of sidewalks along Highway 47 will be constructed by Warrenton city workers aldermen decided after turning down a price quote from Karrenbrock Construction. Officials said the city will save nearly $10,000 on the project by keeping the work in-house. City staff estimated it will cost approximately $14,000 to extend sidewalks along three lots where easements have been secured from property owners. Karrenbrock Construction's proposal was for $24,557.50, according to Terri Thorn, director of operations/finance officer. Work could begin as early as next week once the three properties are surveyed by Lewis-Bade, Inc., and be wrapped up in three weeks, weather permitting. The sidewalks will be installed in front of Warrenton Wesleyan Church and Pitman Funeral Home. The third lot, owned by Ron and Diann Smith, is located between Pitman Funeral Home and Scenic Regional Library. "I think that is a fantastic solution," Mayor Greg Costello said. "It saves a significant amount of money. It gets the project started and we still have some money left in reserves. I think that is an ideal solution to the problem." Michelle Schlenther, economic development director, said five more easements are needed to complete the entire stretch along the highway, excluding the property purchased this summer by the county to build a new government building. The county will be required to install a sidewalk as part of its construction project, according to Schlenther. The city has $25,000 allocated in its sidewalk fund. Officials were concerned about wiping out the entire sidewalk budget had the offer from Karrenbrock Construction been accepted. Thorn also noted that aldermen previously voted to set aside $3,000 from the fund to fix sidewalks along Steinhagen Road near the pedestrian bridge. That project should be forthcoming now that the new walking bridge opens this week. "It would allow the city to have some funds left over for some sidewalks that need repaired throughout the city," she told the board. "Some are in really poor condition." The city had approached representatives for Karrenbrock Construction about installing sidewalks on Highway 47 since it was nearly finished with a similar project on Market Street that was mainly funded by a MoDOT enhancement grant. At the last aldermanic meeting Oct. 20, the board voted to waive the bidding process and allow city officials to negotiate a price with Karrenbrock Construction. BREAKOUT New Walking Bridge to Be Open Thursday A new pedestrian bridge connecting Steinhagen Road and Wabash Street over the railroad tracks will be opened this Thursday, Nov. 5, with a special ceremony being held at 9 a.m. A resident who lives near the bridge has requested to be the first person to cross the bridge. The bridge has been a long-awaited project for city officials since discussions were first held in June 2007 about replacing the bridge. It allows residents an easy access to reach businesses and schools without having to walk next to Highway 47. The city of Warrenton paid approximately $150,000 for construction of the new bridge. The rest of the tab was picked up by a $180,500 grant from the state's Community Development Block Grant program administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The old bridge is expected be removed beginning as early as Thursday afternoon.