A Google map showing the pedestrian bridge crossing Shoal Creek in Decatur, Ga.

An unexpected problem with replacing a pedestrian bridge over Shoal Creek caused the Decatur City Commission to increase the budget for its sidewalk program.

Commissioners during their Dec. 2 meeting approved increasing the budget of the city’s sidewalk improvement program from $315,000 to $330,000.

City Commissioners also approved a change order for the contract to replace the bridge and sidewalks, raising the price from $281,647 to $295,867.

The contract is funded with money in the sidewalk improvement program budget.

City Commissioners approved the change orders at the request of David Junger, Assistant City Manager in charge of Public Works. He said replacement of the bridge at Poplar Circle and Derrydown Way ran into “abutment issues” with a wall on the east side of the creek.

“The existing wall that is in there began to fail and fall into the creek,” Junger said. “We have a sanitary sewer line there.”

Commissioners asked what the consequences would be if the city didn’t repair the wall. It would be a mess, Junger said.

“The stormwater pipe goes through where the abutment is,” Junger said. “We have to make sure we support or maintain those. If we don’t make the repair, there’s potential for us to lose that sanitary sewer line and contaminate the creek.”

After Junger said that, commissioners quickly approved increasing the project budget and cost of the contract.

Junger said he will try to keep costs under control.

“It would be our intent to not necessarily spend the budget amount,” he said.

Editor’s note: I was unable to attend Monday’s meeting, and this account is based on what I saw on the live stream of the meeting broadcast on the city’s website. City officials provided me with some additional background information after the meeting.