City wants to use tourism money for bridge

COLUMBUS — The City of Columbus wants to use money from a tourism tax to pay a $400,000 match to renovate the old U.S. 82 bridge across the Tombigbee River into a pedestrian walkway.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation is providing $2 million for the work.

The Commercial Dispatch reports that Mayor Robert Smith hopes to get Lowndes County to join in the request to the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau (CCVB).

Smith earlier proposed the city and county split the local match.

City council members say the renovation is for tourism so the CCVB should support it.

CCVB CEO James Tsismanakis says the issue would be discussed when the board meets April 19.