All levels of parking garage at Fifth and Walnut open after installation of fall-prevention panels completed

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia Public Works announced in a Friday press release that the installation of steel panels at a Downtown parking garage has been completed.

Panels were installed in all window openings on levels five through eight at the parking garage on Fifth and Walnut streets.

Full access to all levels of the parking garage has now been restored, according to the release.

Access to the top levels of the parking garage had been closed since Sept. 10, 2021. Discussions about the parking garage have gone on for years. Several people have jumped to their deaths at the location. Installation of the panels began last month.

The window barriers are part of a two-phase fall-prevention project at the parking structure. The City made an investment of $488,000 into phase one, which involved building a 10.5-foot fence along the perimeter of the roof. The City invested $423,000 into phase two, which included the installation of steel panels to cover approximately 150 openings.