The Apex bridge now crosses the American Tobacco Trail at the corner of Apex Street and Fargo. (Photo: Rony Camille/ Echo Staff Photographer)

The Apex Street bridge that lies blocks away from N.C. Central University is not just an ordinary bridge.

To many, it’s a historic monument that is irreplaceable.

“The bridge means a lot to the community,” said community activist Beart Truitt-Braswell, 74.

City officials are in the middle of planning whether to reconstruct the Apex Street Bridge for pedestrian and vehicular use or repair the bridge as is.

The bridge, located in the Forest Hills Park Region in South Durham, has a long history.

In 1932, a popularly used railroad created a connecting path, then known as Apex Hill. Apex Hill later developed into Apex Bridge.

Twenty-four years later, the American Tobacco Company constructed and reformed the bridge, making it the City of Durham’s property.

Durham City Council proposed the plan to either reconstruct or demolish the bridge, due to its deterioration throughout the years.

Truitt-Braswell, who has been a part of the Durham Community for over 40 years, became interested in saving the bridge after attending a meeting to determine its future in 2001.

Braswell then played a role in building a neighborhood coalition to protect the bridge.

The Apex Street Bridge Community held its latest meeting September 18 to discuss ways to preserve the bridge.

“We just want to preserve it for historic purposes,” Truitt-Braswell said.

Along with the Apex Street Bridge Community, Truitt-Braswell hopes to bring at least 18 other neighboring communities together to help save the bridge.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has proposed a number of potential reconstruction projects concerning the bridge.

It has the choice of reconstructing the bridge for pedestrian use, which will cost $408,200 and take one year to complete.

Another option is to tear the bridge down and construct a new pedestrian ramp, at a cost ranging from $234,000 to $325,200 and taking over a year to complete.

The last option is to demolish the bridge and construct a new one for vehicles. This option will cost $1,000,000 and take two years to complete.