An online petition to draw support for opening the old Vicksburg Bridge to pedestrians and cyclists year-round has supporters of the effort encouraged.

More than 1,100 people have signed the online petition created by the Friends of the Old Mississippi River Bridge.

Despite not being on the agenda, Linda Fondren, a key supporter of the group to open the bridge year-round, was given the opportunity to speak during the Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting May 7 and reminded the board of the “win-win” opportunity for the county, as well as the national health award the community received last year.

Fondren, who created Shape Up Vicksburg, has been an advocate for a healthy lifestyle and believes opening the bridge would be another avenue for the community to utilize and stay in shape, as well as create more economic development and tourism in the downtown area.

“Seven months ago, Warren County and the city of Vicksburg were recognized nationally for how we shape up, educate our children and grow our economy,” Fondren said. “We were also recognized for coming together as a community to set priorities and focus on core issues. We believe the county is moving in a very positive direction. We also believe that opening up the bridge for pedestrian and cyclist traffic on a year-round basis is a win-win for the county and a win-win for the railroad. We would like to encourage you to please let the Friends of the Vicksburg Bridge be a part of helping you negotiate, talk with the railroad, with the bridge commission. We are here to help.”

A large contingent of members from the Friends of the Mississippi River Bridge gathered April 23 for the supervisor’s work session asking the board to adopt a resolution to direct the Vicksburg Bridge Commission to take the necessary action needed in opening the bridge year-round to pedestrians and cyclists.

The 1.6-mile, 88-year-old span is owned by Warren County and managed by the five-member Vicksburg Bridge Commission, which is appointed by the supervisors. The bridge 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 and 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.

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.

The petition can be found on the group’s River Path Junction Facebook page.