Councilors: I strongly support the option of adding walkways on either side of the bridge.

Last week I shared with you the safety problems with the current situation. This Saturday a group of us were standing on the west end of the bridge when a man asked us for help getting down off the sidewalk so he could walk across the street to his car. Each time I am there, I see some new safety problem.

The proposed walkways and a ramp to the sidewalk would address these, without in any way affecting vehicle traffic or parking. I urge you to act to improve the safety on this bridge for all users ASAP. Thanks!

Please reconsider the 4th street/bridge closure. I understand the focus of the initial decision, with regards to personal safety/social distancing, but I cannot understand the need to close such a major business thoroughfare at 4th Street/Bridge. The life blood of our downtown is our small businesses and they DO need to be considered even if they do not fit into the focus of this decision, when trying to implement such a large closure for a long span of time. Perhaps limiting fishing to one side of the bridge, with pedestrian crossing on the other, or disallow fishing on the bridge altogether might be a less negative compromise. Another consideration is Fire and Rescue, I would not want to see unnecessary damage to downtown businesses or people because rescue vehicles were inhibited and delayed by traffic flow and closed streets.. The affected businesses pay taxes for their street and their parking.

I am opposed to closing the 4th St. bridge to traffic as well as to closing 4th St.up to the bridge.Closing a major street downtown is detrimental to all of the businesses struggling to stay afloat after the forced closures this spring. All of the businesses near Bridge Square NEED to be as accessible and as welcoming as possible to our visitors in order to recover. What we don't need are road blocks and neon police signs forcing visitors away! I support the idea of adding a few more picnic tables to Bridge Square and could even concede the proposed section of Water St. being closed, but access to businesses and parking needs to be maintained downtown. If fishing from the bridge is a problem, create an alternate place to fish. If a lack of picnic tables are the problem, add some more to the space already available. There is something special and inviting about our downtown - visitors comment on it all the time - let's not ruin a good thing by trying to keep people away.

I feel that a longer and more inclusive problem-solving process could offer solutions for everyone. The city has taken immediate and future hits to tax revenue with COVID-19, ranging from loss of college student dollars to the long-ranging loss of census revenue. The river is long and winding, with several bridges offering immediate spaces for safe fishing and enjoyment. This proposal’s losses to the city outweigh the recreational benefit to a few. If allowed, the recreational fisher people should be required to purchase daily passes to reimburse the cost of losses to affected businesses, in addition to mitigating the losses to the city that would have otherwise been generated in sales tax. Northfield is unique; let’s innovate, not replicate, other cities’ hastily implemented policies, while also recognizing that time is perishable.

We run two businesses on Division Street, please vote NO on closing the bridge. Please add a few more picnic tables to Bridge Square and leave all of the roads around Division St open. Thank you.

I think this is an interesting idea that's worth considering. While I understand the concerns over lost parking spaces, as I near as I can tell from the map, no customers will have to walk more than about a half block from Division Street to businesses on Fourth. In any big city, such a short walk would be trivial, hardly worth mentioning. Gaining more outdoor space in a scenic and accessible spot – and relieving the crowding in Bridge Square - seems like a major benefit. As for traffic: you're already in a car! Can't you drive a few more blocks and cross the river at Second or Fifth?

Please vote NO to street & bridge closures. This seems to just be a waste of everyone's time.
I would suggest simply adding a few picnic tables to Bridge Square and River Front areas.
Listen to those that are taking the time to leave their comments.
Thank you!

As part of a small business, I understand how hard hit our local businesses are and the action of closing the Water St. Bridge, while well-intentioned, I don't believe was fully vetted. At this time I believe it would be a mistake to close it even temporarily and I strongly oppose it. The idea of closing that small portion of Water St. between the post office and where it meets with 4th/water makes more sense, would allow for some more picnic tables and social distancing. As for the fisher people, there's a lot more river shoreline they could fish that does not obstruct pedestrians/bicyclists over the bridge.

Though intentions are good, I believe the harm to businesses recovering from Covid shutdowns from this street closure outweigh the benefits. Take Bridge Square Barbers for example--many of their patrons are elderly and truly need those storefront parking spots.

I oppose this closure. It certainly inconveniences our deliveries and customers at By All Means Graphics. Not to mention, I can't imagine the many, many elderly handicapped gentlemen who go to Bridge Square Barbers. I'm not saying that I'm not for creating more space for all to spread out, but there also seems to be some mis-information. Is it for people to eat outside, or is it because of the people fishing? All-in-all, I don't see this as the solution to either scenario.

There is no valid reason to close portions of the road; causing additional stress on businesses trying to recover from significant loss of business due to COVID-19. We have MANY parks and recreational areas people can choose to gather at allowing for efficient social distancing. Please support your local business owners!

I strongly oppose this idea. My business (Northfield Framing & Fine Art Printing) is located at 13 Bridge Square. I absolutely need available street parking for my clients and for deliveries. This is why I located my business at this location. I am only beginning to see some recovery activity, but if you close parking on the north side of Bridge Square, the City of Northfield will accomplish what COVID-19 could not; put me out of business. Please do not be so reckless with these decisions without considering the small business community that is trying to recover post-COVID-19.

We are Northfield residents and Division St. business owners and we oppose this motion for several reasons. First, any restriction to traffic flow in and around downtown has a direct negative impact on businesses. In the 26 years we have been in business on Division Street, we have seen negative impacts every time an access point is restricted. Second, none of the proposed uses for the bridge will directly benefit downtown businesses. While fishing, walking and bicycling are admirable, they have little positive effect on downtown businesses and there are plenty of opportunities to do this already in the Bridge Square area without generating negative effects. Keep in mind only a fraction of the Northfield population is interested in or able to walk, bike or fish downtown. Third, reducing access to downtown when businesses are already undergoing setbacks from the Covid 19 shutdown is unwise. The last thing downtown businesses need right now is another obstacle to economic activity.

We will have no truck access for deliveries. Not sure why the street is being closed for pedestrians and fishing while tax paying businesses are being affected.

This is completely unnecessary, and not needed. There is no direct benefit to restaurants and businesses. Patios are slowly re-opening, and there are no restaurants that have direct contact to Bridge Square. The additional seating is not necessary. Blocking NEGATIVELY impacts the businesses in this area due to lower traffic counts, and the ease of access for both customers and delivery vehicles. Blocking the bridge, makes it very difficult and challenging for the delivery vehicles to get to the restaurants in establishments on the west side of the bridge, as they are unable to make the turn around. The only way would be to illegally cut through the private property parking lot between the Eagles and the Ames mill. If you want to positively impact the businesses downtown, put in some temporary parklets in front of the various establishments on division street. Pedestrian and fishing access is fine as it is. Please vote NO. This makes no sense. Thank you!

As a Northfield Citizen and Tax Payer, I strongly oppose the closing of the 4th street bridge. I live on the west side of town and frequently cross this bridge to get to the post office and surrounding business's. I think more picnic tables will encourage social gatherings, not help with social distancing. Parking is hard enough in this area.

As a Northfield citizen, I strongly oppose the closing of the 4th Street Bridge. There are few precious parking spots in the area as it is, and the closing will make it that much harder to get to the downtown businesses in that area that I shop at. If space is needed for eating outdoors, perhaps some picnic tables near the river by the post office, or on the other side of the river in the open area? Surely those who want to eat could walk to that space?
Eliminate the fishing from the bridge, post a few signs to indicate where fishing is allowed.
The intersection at 246/Jefferson Pkwy will be closed for quite some time due to the roundabouts. It will be hard enough to get into town with that, much less closing off the main access over the bridge.
Please keep in mind that the citizens of Northfield do have cars, not everyone walks and bikes downtown.

The Nfld Chamber strongly opposes the closure of the 4th St Bridge in front of the Chamber office.
Closure will directly affect over a dozen sm. businesses who are already struggling to keep their doors open. This closure will result in decreased parking along 4th St, difficulty receiving deliveries and a decreased overall access to these businesses, access they desperately need during these trying times. Many of these businesses have been forced to shut down due to COVID-19 and are finally beginning the process of opening up.
Social distancing, pedestrian safety and more picnic areas can be accomplished with little to no effect on business by closing down Water St in between Bridge Sq St and 4th St as well as eliminating fishing from one or both sides of the bridge to allow for safe pedestrian crossings.
We are also concerned about emergency vehicle access and the need to find alternative and less efficient routes to attend to the needs of our citizens and businesses.