Earlier this week we highlighted reporting by the Times-Dispatch’s Graham Moomaw on Mayor Dwight Jones’ proposed 2015 budget — specifically that it included no new funds for projects outlined in the Riverfront Plan. Much of the early focus of the plan has centered around the Brown’s Island Dam Walk — a proposed pedestrian- and bicycle-only bridge that would follow the path of the defunct, but still extant, Vepco Levy Bridge.

A number of local conservation and outdoors groups were concerned when word spread about the mayor’s proposed budget. In today’s T-D, the mayor seemed to backtrack, saying his budget “sends the wrong signal” about the city’s intentions regarding the Riverfront Plan and adding that “we are well on track to complete the dam walk before the world road cycling championships…” Still, a number of questions remain, many of which are outlined in Michael Paul Williams’ Metro section column today.

The Vepco Levy Bridge looking south toward Manchester.

The excitement level is high for the BIDW for seemingly obvious reasons: It would be the first bike/ped-only bridge on the James in Central Virginia; it would connect the north and south banks of the James; it would be just a few feet above the water.

But one thing very few Richmonders, even those fired up by the idea of the dam walk, can say is that they know what it will be like to stand on the completed bridge and take in the full sweep of the James River — Belle Isle and the Lee Bridge upstream, Brown’s Island to the north, the Manchester Bridge and the islands downstream.

Now they can. At RichmondOutside.com we consider ourselves intrepid pushers of the envelope, and we’re proud to bring you our Terrain360 tour of the future Brown’s Island Dam Walk.