It was standing room only as supporters to open the old Vicksburg Bridge year-round packed the Warren County Board of Supervisors office Monday morning for their work session.

The group, known as the Friends of the Old Vicksburg Bridge, is seeking a resolution from the supervisors to have the Warren County Bridge Commission open the historic bridge to pedestrian and cyclist traffic throughout the year, rather than just for special functions.

The 1.6-mile, 88-year-old span is owned by Warren County and managed by the five-member bridge commission. It was closed to vehicles in 1998 over safety concerns presented mainly by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Louisiana maintains the Interstate 20 bridge and stopped allocating money to the bridge on the west side of the state line after it was closed to vehicles.

Kansas City Southern Railroad leases the track on the bridge from the county.

The bridge’s driving surface, or deck, is a popular site for special events like the Over The River Run, which began in 1989, 5K walks, the Bricks and Spokes ride to promote downtown, a breast cancer benefit featuring bras strung along the old road’s railing. Wheelchair bikers and bicyclists have also crossed the old bridge for a “Walk, Roll and Stroll” benefit for Living Independence for Everyone, a Jackson-based charity for the disabled.

Linda Fondren spoke on behalf of the group and outlined to the supervisors the benefits of having the bridge, which is also known as the Old Highway 80 bridge, open for all to use.

“This is an opportunity to transform the bridge into an asset for the county,” Fondren said.

Bess Averett, executive director of Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park, said visitors to the VNMP often ask if there is a way to view the city from the bridge and unfortunately there isn’t at this time.

“From the tourism aspect, opening the bridge would open an amazing opportunity,” Averett said.

Annette Kirklin, executive director of the Vicksburg Convention Center, said other cities around the nation have done similar projects, including Memphis, which opened the Harahan Bridge to foot and bicycle traffic in 2016 and is considered the longest active rail/bicycle/pedestrian bridge in the county.

“In six months, 65,000 people crossed that bridge,” Kirklin said, adding the Vicksburg Bridge would be longer than the Harahan Bridge if it were opened year-round.

Local businessman Hunter Fordice also spoke in favor of the project, noting the bridge is currently a non-performing asset that could easily be turned into a performing asset for the community.

“The benefit to Vicksburg and Warren County is huge,” Fordice said. “Every business can benefit from this.”

Gerad Hardy, general manager of Ameristar Casino and Hotel, said his business is “behind opening the bridge.”

“Nothing spends like tourism money,” Hardy said, “but this would also be a great community asset for citizens.”

Mack Varner, who backed the failed push to open the bridge 21 years ago to pedestrians and bicyclists, encouraged the supervisors to act on this opportunity.

“Don’t miss this opportunity again,” Varner said.

Two efforts since 1998 to fund a bicycle park on the old bridge in Vicksburg with federal highway money have petered out due to opposition from Kansas City Southern Railroad citing safety as a reason. The most recent was in 2006, when KCS opposed it in writing to state and federal legislators from Vicksburg, the Mississippi Department of Transportation and then-Gov. Haley Barbour.

A coalition of local government and tourism promotion entities had applied for grant money via MDOT to finance the project.

A 1999 study commissioned by the Warren County Bridge Commission addressed improving the bridge to make it safer for walkers and cyclers.

Buddy Dees, who has also been a long-time supporter of opening the bridge year-round, said that study is still relevant.

“We ask that you direct the bridge commission to look into opening the bridge year-round,” Dees said.

Warren County Board of Supervisors President Richard George said the supervisors are “aware of the interest and support for this.

“There will be a deliberate effort to make a decision,” George told the group.

The supervisors are expected to take up the matter during their formal meeting set for 9 a.m. Monday, May 7 in the board room on the third floor of the Warren County Courthouse.