Yeah there was a lot of local complaint/controversy because it was originally only estimated to cost around $6 mil. Yes you can actually tell time by it, I will post a pic of one of the markers, and yes, only foot or bicycle traffic allowed. At night the lights under the bridge shine down on the water, very pretty. The biggest benefit/justification is that it is generating a tourism industry for an area otherwise fairly slow in that department (outside of fishing, hunting, and camping type activities).