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Constructing Community in Flagler County: Graham Swamp Trail and Pedestrian Bridge
A joint project between Flagler County and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Graham Swamp Trail and Pedestrian Bridge project has added an extensive trail network for pedestrians and cyclists through natural marshlands and swamp areas.
While the pedestrian bridge over State Road 100 may be the signature structure for the project, the added trails and raised boardwalk through Graham Swamp exposes bits of Old Florida to tourists and residents alike.
“A big part of the project was not just the bridge, but we had three elevated walkways that make their way through Graham Swamp, which is part of Florida that most people don't get a chance to see. It is a true Florida swamp,” said Amy Stroger, project manager for Flagler County.
“It gives people the opportunity, especially if you're not from Florida, you can see part of Florida that you would not otherwise get a chance to see.”
The project was made possible by Local Agency Program (LAP) funding. Projects eligible for LAP funding include safety projects, traffic calming projects and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. FDOT is responsible for distributing federal funding to approved LAP projects, as well as overseeing the project’s progress.
The Structure
Kissinger Campo & Associates led design and permitting for the project, with Chief Structures Engineer Simon Hagedoorn ensuring that the specifications of the design were reflected in the construction.
The design included a bridge crossing over State Road 100, with two 138-foot beams meeting to rest on one pier in the median of the road. These large beams create the majority of the structure for the bridge, extending to embassy walls on each side.
Jason Ellins, CEI land development project manager from England-Thims & Miller (ETM), served as the project administrator, coordinating with the contractor to ensure that each step of the project was fulfilled correctly.
“We did run into a few unique items with this project. Putting in the raised boardwalk and getting the piles to stay exactly where we wanted, we had multiple interactions with those,” Ellins said. “There were some nuances there that this team worked together on; it was probably one of the key reasons that it was so successful.”
When the covering for the bridge was first installed, it received social media attention for its design. The A-frame style was chosen to pay homage to the Flagler Beach Pier.
The frame’s stainless steel material was initially a point of contention because of its reflection of sunlight, but a coat of patina was applied that has since dulled the reflection. Despite this initial reaction, the overall feedback has been positive.
“When I go out there, I really have heard nothing but enthusiastic, positive feedback from the users of that facility,” Stroger said. “And the longer it has been out there, I think the more positive feedback I'm getting.”
On And Around The Trail
The project also included the installation of raised boardwalks through marshland of the Graham Swamp.
The project is located within conservation lands, giving visitors the opportunity to view Florida’s wildlife in an undisturbed state. In fact, wildlife was a key consideration in the design process. Permitting for the trail portion of the project was strict in order to preserve the surrounding marshland as much as possible.
“What we agreed upon was that we would only impact a 25-foot wide area corridor for the construction, whereas the trail was 14 feet wide plus the width of the railing,” Hagedoorn said. “We were using up most of that area just to fit the permanent structure in. So you're kind of building in the footprint.”
Keeping the construction as close to the raised boardwalk as possible kept from disturbing the surrounding environment and local wildlife. This was also considered with the bridge’s dimensions, where the beams that support the bridge stand much further away from the road than one may expect.
“The permitting agencies were worried that the animals that would go to this wall would be directed to the road,” said Hagedoom. “So they wanted that length of bridge to be well beyond where the road was so that the animals, if they got to where the approach was, wouldn't be guided into the road. [The animals] have a corridor to pass through.”
Further Expansion In Flagler County
The Graham Swamp Trail and Bridge is one part of a larger plan for the expansion of bicycle and pedestrian paths through Flagler County. In connecting the Lehigh Trail North of S.R. 100 to sidewalks on the south side of the road, the county looks forward to further expansion.
“This is a forward-thinking project because we have an extensive trail system on the north side of (S.R.) 100, but we're still in the planning stages for an extensive trail system south of 100,” County Commissioner Andy Dance said.
Under the leadership of Dance, the newest phases of the expansion are being planned. The process of receiving approval and funding from the LAP program is ongoing, but there is already excitement for what’s to come.
“In five or six years, we'll have miles and miles of trail that the citizens in our community and our visitors will be able to enjoy,” said Flagler County Engineer Hamid Tabassian. “This is going to be great for Flagler County, while at the same time preserving the environment and basically opening that beautiful landscape for these passive recreational activities that, after a long day, make your day.
