PHENIX CITY, Ala. - A section of the Phenix City Riverwalk closed Monday, Nov. 9, and city officials say it will stay closed until the work is finished. The closed stretch runs between the north end of the wooden pedestrian bridge over Mill Creek and the Phenix City Amphitheater, according to WTVM. Anyone who walks, jogs or bikes along the riverfront will need to plan around the closure.

What is closed

The closure covers the segment of the Riverwalk between the north end of the wooden pedestrian bridge over Mill Creek and the amphitheater. WTVM reported that the closure is expected to last until the project is completed. It also said dates and times may shift because of weather, so the reopening day could move.

The report named a contractor working for the Phenix City Utilities Department as the party doing the work. It did not describe the project itself, and it did not give a cost or a target completion date. No detour was listed in the report, and travelers were told to expect delays and allow extra time for trips in the area.

Who to call

Questions about the closure can go to the Phenix City Utilities Department at 334-448-2880, according to the WTVM report. Because the report did not describe the project, the utilities department is the best place to ask what the work involves and how long it is likely to take. Residents who rely on the trail for exercise or commuting may want to call before making plans that depend on that stretch.

About the Riverwalk

The Phenix City Riverwalk runs along the Alabama bank of the Chattahoochee River, across from Columbus, Georgia. A National Recreation Trails application listing describes it as a 1.21-mile loop and says it begins at an open amphitheater overlooking the river. The listing says the path is mostly paved, with some boardwalk, brick and cement surfaces, and several iron bridges. It also notes benches, lighting, water fountains and an overlook of the planned whitewater course.

The same listing says the Riverwalk was certified as a National Recreation Trail on May 29, 2013. It was based on a 2013 application, so some details may be out of date. According to the listing, the Riverwalk connects to Columbus by the historic Dillingham Bridge and the renovated 14th Street pedestrian bridge, which link to the Columbus Riverwalk on the Georgia side.

The listing also describes planned extensions: about 2 miles north toward Alabama Highway 80, about 2.98 miles south toward State Docks Road, and 0.47 mile west to the Phenix City Nature Trail. Those are plans described in the 2013 listing. The Columbus Times has not confirmed their current status. Readers should treat them as proposals, not as projects now under way.

Not the first closure this year

This is not the first time a Riverwalk section has been closed in 2026. A City of Phenix City media release dated July 7 said a contractor had closed the wooden pedestrian bridge nearest the amphitheater for repairs, with the closure expected to end Aug. 3. The city's release is the source for that timeline, and it is not clear from the reports reviewed whether the current closure is related to that earlier work.

The earlier closure is a reminder that the Riverwalk, with its wooden and iron bridges and its position along the river, needs regular upkeep. Closures of short sections are a common feature of trail maintenance, though the city has not said how long this one will last. The Columbus Times will update this story if the city announces a reopening date.

How to plan around it

People who use the Riverwalk have a few practical options while the section is closed. The Columbus side of the river has its own riverfront path, and the two cities' trails are linked by pedestrian bridges, though a visitor should confirm which bridges are open before crossing. Event-goers who normally walk to the amphitheater along the trail may want to check how to reach it by road instead.

The city has not announced any event changes tied to the closure. Anyone planning to attend an amphitheater event can check with the city or the event organizer for parking and access details. For the latest on the work, the utilities department number above is the one to call.