Report on second Batavia bridge to be unveiled Monday

The long-awaited report on whether, when, where and how Batavia could add a second bridge downtown will be unveiled at Monday's city council meeting.

The 11-member River Crossing Advisory Commission was established in January 2008 to study the matter and make recommendations to the city council.

After the report is presented to the council, the matter will be referred to the community development committee for discussion. City administrators anticipate that committee might want to gather additional information, including traffic studies.

Batavia had something of a brouhaha in 2000 over siting a second bridge, when the city council was the one considering all the options. It voted 8-6 in favor of a crossing that would connect First Street to Webster Street; in contrast, a survey of city residents showed they favored a Main Street-to-Laurel-Street bridge.

Voters that November rejected the city's request to borrow $8.2 million to build that bridge, with 73 percent voting "no."

City leaders and some business officials are anxious to determine a right of way for a potential second bridge, because that would let business planners figure out where they can build new developments downtown.

The council meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave.