A collection of businesses in Cobb County's commercial hub has agreed to provide $5 million in funding for the pedestrian bridge over Interstate 285 that would connect the Cobb Galleria with the Atlanta Braves' new stadium.

Local media outlets report that the Cumberland Community Improvement District board on Thursday approved the funding by a 5-2 vote to provide the county with $2.5 million in both 2018 and 2019 to spend on the bridge's construction.

Tad Leithead, chair of the board, says he hopes the contribution will accelerate the timeline of the bridge project in order for the bridge to be completed before SunTrust Park opens in April 2017.

County Chairman Tim Lee announced in September that the bridge project would be delayed and unlikely to be open at that time.