By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Pedestrians soon will have a safer way of traveling to hotels and restaurants on Alabama 119 from the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre and the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice arena.

During its July 1 meeting, the Pelham City Council agreed to pay Byrd Contractors $25,000 to re-deck the wooden planks on a pedestrian bridge over Buck Creek leading from the two entertainment venues to Alabama 119.

Through a 1996 agreement between Pelham and the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, the Amphitheatre will reimburse the city half of the $25,000 expense.

“It has to be re-decked,” said Pelham City Council President Rick Hayes. “It’s something that is critical from a safety standpoint for me.”

The pedestrian bridge is one of two leading from the Amphitheatre and Civic Complex to the multitude of restaurants and hotels lining Alabama 119. During concerts or major Civic Complex events, businesses along Alabama 119 see increased customer traffic as a result of the bridges.