Concrete Bridge Demolished To Make Way For New Walking Path

COLUMBIA, MD — The concrete walking bridge spanning between The Mall and the Lakefront that crosses six lanes of Little Patuxent Parkway has become a memory.

A developer project from Brookfield Properties called for the demolition of the pedestrian bridge spanning the Little Patuxent Parkway, located just south of Wincopin Circle in Columbia. The bridge connected the property at 10320 Little Patuxent Parkway with the surface parking lot near Whole Foods Market.

Brookfield Properties completed a structural assessment of the pedestrian bridge in 2022. The bridge, built in the early 1970s, spans 172 feet and was constructed of cast-in-place concrete.

"While the bridge was deemed structurally sound in 2022, the extent and complexity of required repairs, combined with the age, unclear reinforcement type and safety risks, indicated that the demolition of the bridge replacement would be a more efficient long-term solution than an extensive and costly rehabilitation," Howard County officials stated in a news release.

The developer now will build an alternate path stretching 745 feet from the mall side of Little Patuxent Parkway and intersect at the Whole Foods traffic signal just south of the pedestrian bridge. At this intersection, a new signalized pedestrian crosswalk will be constructed on the south side of the intersection. It will take approximately 2.5 months to construct.

“Walkability is huge in downtown Columbia,” Mary Williams, the mall’s senior general manager, told The Baltimore Banner. “We’re excited about this alternative.”