This year’s Beers Across the Wabash might better be referred to as “Beers Next ToThe Wabash.” Construction on the event’s usual home on the John T. Meyers Pedestrian Bridge is behind schedule and won’t be done for at least another two weeks – thus moving the festival into neighboring Riehle Plaza.
Lafayette Public Works Director Jennifer Leshney says the bridge was originally slated to open August 28, but is behind schedule thanks to what she refers to as a “railing delivery issue.” Leshney says the railings weren’t delivered in time but didn't offer any more information.
Ken McCammon is President of Friends of Downtown, the host of Beers Across the Wabash. He says the city waffled several times on whether the group would be able to use the bridge, thanks to confusion over whether the specially-made railings would be delivered on schedule.
"We worked very closely with the city the whole time," McCammon says, "They’ve just been misinformed by the supplier."
He's still unsure whether the bridge closure will affect attendance at this year's festival:
"It's a far better venue on the bridge, just the beauty of it, with the water running underneath and the scenery," he says. "It may have a negative effect, we won't know until Saturday afternoon."
Leshney says the bridge should be done in the next couple weeks. Crews have been working on the bridge for the past year, rehabbing its piers, joints and railings.