Put a nail in the coffin - the proposed pedestrian bridge across the Conewango Creek to Point Park is officially a dead project.

According to John Aldrich, executive director of the Transit Authority of Warren County (TAWC), estimates for constructing the bridge came in nearly $2 million over the federal earmarked funding of $1.2 million that was set aside for the project.

"What we obtained for cost estimates - it's out of our range," Aldrich said Wednesday.

Aldrich said TAWC approached Warren City Council with the results of its construction estimates for feedback from the city.

"We showed them the numbers," Aldrich said. "They were a little skeptical - and I don't blame them - so they did their own study. It confirmed the numbers we had were accurate."

"We asked the city for additional money to finish the bridge if it was critical to them to see that bridge done," Aldrich said. "They came back and told us they didn't have the funding and they were withdrawing from the project."

According to Aldrich, the federally earmarked grant does not need to be returned to the government due to the project falling apart: TAWC officials are working with the Federal Transit Commission to develop "a little different scope for the use of those funds."

"We are seeing where else we can use them," Aldrich said. "We're working on the application right now."

Aldrich said he was unable to reveal specific proposals for use of the $1.2 million grant. "But whatever we do," he said, "the city will be involved."