The Westerville portion of the Ohio-Erie trail could be undergoing renovations soon to make travel by foot and bicycle safer.

Resolution no. 2012-02, to add a bridge to the trail over County Line Road, was approved unanimously today by the Westerville City Council.

The unfunded project is eligible for a $500,000 grant, applied for through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, but will cost close to $1.4 million.

For now, only a concept design is proposed. The bridge design is compact to minimize the effect on the surrounding properties and homeowners.

Support comes from Westerville citizens concerned with safety of the travelers on the path.

“Safety of our citizens is important…I really appreciate the effort [on the project],” City Council Chairman Michael Heyeck said.

Some opposition to the trail bridge was raised, most involving cost and aesthetics. However, Westerville Mayor, Kathleen Cocuzzi, commented that most of the reviews affirmed the building of the bridge.