Volunteer efforts complete Greenway bridge
Some of the workers on the bridge project are pictured above. From left to right: Brian Madison, City of Cassville; Erik Williams, FEMA; Ken Latschar, City of Cassville; Jeff Luney, FEMA; and Travis Hilburn. Not pictured: Shane Anderson with FEMA and Ryan Lynxwiler, with the City of Cassville.
March 16, 2016
Charlea Estes
Eight months after the severe July flood washed away the Cassville Greenway trail bridge near the Aquatic Center, a new bridge is complete and ready for runners and walkers alike.
The project was a longtime coming while the City of Cassville waited for FEMA funds to be dispersed for a variety of projects related to repairs and recovery after downpours caused damage throughout the seven valleys. Cassville Public Works director Steve Walensky said the city finally received the FEMA funds in December.
The project cost approximately $7,000, with 75 percent of the funding from FEMA, 10 percent from SEMA and the remaining 15 percent from City funds. The city also has FEMA employees that they were approved for that are helping with recovery and repair projects for six months on projects like this. The funds were used to purchase and place the steel beams with a crane, as well as purchasing lumber and materials, and was spearheaded by a community volunteer that wanted to get the bridge back in operation.
Travis Hilburn approached Walensky back in July of last year to volunteer his efforts to get the bridge replaced. He said, “I ran this trail a lot when I went back in the military. Losing this bridge cut off 20 percent of the trail, and dozens if not hundreds of people do this trail. So I thought I would help out.
“I said, ‘I’ll build the bridge when you’re ready.”
The plans began around six months ago, and Hilburn attempted to get the National Guard to pick up the project, but they were not able to. Hilburn led the project with the help of three FEMA employees and three City of Cassville employees. When the National Guard was unable to do the project, Hilburn said, “I figured I would just do it myself. I didn’t expect them to get me the FEMA or City employees to help me. But we got it done much faster than if I’d done it myself.
“It would have taken me a month to do this on my own.”
It took the group a little over a week to finish the bridge. Walensky said, “Travis took the lead; he had the initiative. He led the whole thing, and I didn’t really have any involvement with this.”
Walensky did say the city plans to power wash the bridge and treat it with a water repellent to protect it from the elements.
The new bridge has quite a few improvements over the original. The bridge was widened and given angled rails and a rub rail to make it more comfortable for runners. Hilburn also planed down the boards to make it smooth to cross. He said, “If you had a stroller on it before, you’d have to practically pick it up to cross. It isn’t like that now.”
The city is currently taking bids to replace asphalt that was washed away as well as making a smooth transition of asphalt up to the bridge from the trail.
Hilburn said, “They’re going to fill in the holes in the asphalt and they’re cleaning up the creek bed. It’ll be a nice trail to walk again.”
Once the bridge was complete, Hilburn approached the Cassville City Council requesting that the bridge be dedicated to his late grandfather, William Harvey Hilburn, a lifelong Cassville resident. He said, “I think to remember him in this manner would be an honor to his name.” The council approved his request unanimously and opted to pay for the plaque with city funds.
Mayor Bill Shiveley shared, “I’ve already had a lot of good feedback and comments on it.”
Charlea Estes
Eight months after the severe July flood washed away the Cassville Greenway trail bridge near the Aquatic Center, a new bridge is complete and ready for runners and walkers alike.
The project was a longtime coming while the City of Cassville waited for FEMA funds to be dispersed for a variety of projects related to repairs and recovery after downpours caused damage throughout the seven valleys. Cassville Public Works director Steve Walensky said the city finally received the FEMA funds in December.
The project cost approximately $7,000, with 75 percent of the funding from FEMA, 10 percent from SEMA and the remaining 15 percent from City funds. The city also has FEMA employees that they were approved for that are helping with recovery and repair projects for six months on projects like this. The funds were used to purchase and place the steel beams with a crane, as well as purchasing lumber and materials, and was spearheaded by a community volunteer that wanted to get the bridge back in operation.
Travis Hilburn approached Walensky back in July of last year to volunteer his efforts to get the bridge replaced. He said, “I ran this trail a lot when I went back in the military. Losing this bridge cut off 20 percent of the trail, and dozens if not hundreds of people do this trail. So I thought I would help out.
“I said, ‘I’ll build the bridge when you’re ready.”
The plans began around six months ago, and Hilburn attempted to get the National Guard to pick up the project, but they were not able to. Hilburn led the project with the help of three FEMA employees and three City of Cassville employees. When the National Guard was unable to do the project, Hilburn said, “I figured I would just do it myself. I didn’t expect them to get me the FEMA or City employees to help me. But we got it done much faster than if I’d done it myself.
“It would have taken me a month to do this on my own.”
It took the group a little over a week to finish the bridge. Walensky said, “Travis took the lead; he had the initiative. He led the whole thing, and I didn’t really have any involvement with this.”
Walensky did say the city plans to power wash the bridge and treat it with a water repellent to protect it from the elements.
The new bridge has quite a few improvements over the original. The bridge was widened and given angled rails and a rub rail to make it more comfortable for runners. Hilburn also planed down the boards to make it smooth to cross. He said, “If you had a stroller on it before, you’d have to practically pick it up to cross. It isn’t like that now.”
The city is currently taking bids to replace asphalt that was washed away as well as making a smooth transition of asphalt up to the bridge from the trail.
Hilburn said, “They’re going to fill in the holes in the asphalt and they’re cleaning up the creek bed. It’ll be a nice trail to walk again.”
Once the bridge was complete, Hilburn approached the Cassville City Council requesting that the bridge be dedicated to his late grandfather, William Harvey Hilburn, a lifelong Cassville resident. He said, “I think to remember him in this manner would be an honor to his name.” The council approved his request unanimously and opted to pay for the plaque with city funds.
Mayor Bill Shiveley shared, “I’ve already had a lot of good feedback and comments on it.”
