The underlying structure is in fairly good shape, actually, having been built out of a genuine intention to endure. That doesn't mean it's eternal or that there's no signs of wear, and in the next decade or so, its supports would be due for some bolstering. The top of the bridge is another story, with the buildings having not survived the weather in any kind of habitable condition.
But some of the internal structure of the houses might yet be salvageable, if one stripped off everything that had gone moldy. The insides are largely ruined, with a few old belongings having just about survived, tucked away from wind and pelting rain. But it would be a miserable (and unhealthy) place to live in as is.
The center portion of the bridge (where squid has been found), is the most battered. Although the squid is less likely to deliberately break anything on that section of the bridge these days, it will still bring its tentacles up there to seek out attention, so it might be better to not try to rebuild much around there....
The Kelesian-side of the bridge has less recognizable habitation left than the Karterian-side, with much of it having gone overgrown by nature, rather than merely rotted away by it. The friendly animals there wouldn't protest things being cleaned up a bit there, but would become uncomfortable at any concerted attempt to drive back the forest.
For those comfortable with camping conditions (and some curious critters), it's not a bad place as it is, but it would be better to not try to turn it back into a settlement for humanity (or Augmented). The rotting Karterian-side is free to everyone....
Back in Karteria, most of the former Aparallaxians would approve, or at least accept Mel's desire to revive the town in some way. There's many who would just shrug, indifferent to its fate, viewing it as an old house they moved out of years ago and haven't thought about since. A few are nostalgic about the place (such as the woman who'd asked the Augmented to look for her childhood things), but don't remember it clearly. Having it fixed up, inhabited again, even by 'animal people'... given the strides the Augmented have made in garnering favor with the appropriate classes (all varieties of middle, and lower), they would be largely alright with this.
As for official blessings... the government doesn't necessarily like this. Why do they want to create a beastly city elsewhere rather than getting on with fixing things (somehow)? But they can't stop them. Patho-Gen is largely staying out of it, claiming (rightly, even) that they're not in the business of managing abandoned towns, and the Augmented are encouraged to explore the islands as much as they can. And having people regularly around the teleportation points connecting Orexis and Eparsis is only a good thing. So there would be no effective resistance to her plan.
The thought of sending goods between Karteria and Kelesis is an interesting one. Beyond what's entering the shops in restricted channels, the average person (at least, on the Karterian side) is curious about what the other city has to offer, and might put out requests for specific, less vital materials. A new branch of the Steel Wing... and something that its Augmented employees would be uniquely qualified to offer. The government(? such as it is) of Kelesis would do nothing to interfere with this, though the Kelesians themselves would not make requests in return. They're satisfied with what they have!
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