Community Engagement
A public meeting to provide a project update to the community was held at Burton Barr Central Library on July 9, 2024 at 5 p.m. An online community survey to gather input about the design concepts was available in English and Spanish from July 9 through July 28, 2024. Thank you to those who participated in the public meeting and survey. Click the video posted above to watch the presentation from the public meeting. Please follow this page for project updates.
About the Project
The Phoenix Street Transportation Department is in the early design phase for the city's first and only dedicated bicycle and pedestrian bridge across the Rio Salado (Salt River). The bridge will provide a seamless, safe and comfortable connection point.
The scope of this project consists of constructing a bridge across the Rio Salado River generally along the 3rd Street alignment. The riverbank trails along the southern bank will also be improved through the addition of low-emitting solar pedestrian-scale lighting and pathway amenities between Central Avenue and 40th Street.
What Will the Bridge Look Like?
Community input drove the development of preliminary aesthetic concepts. Engagement with youth and community members provided the study team with feedback and input to develop design themes and inform the impression, aesthetics, inspiration, amenities and desired experience of the proposed bridge.
Three main design concepts were developed during the planning phase of the project. This concept featured an arched gateway on the southern end of the bridge. The structural span of the bridge arches over the Rio Salado and is meant to evoke the handle of a Native American basket.
On July 9, the design team presented three design alternatives inspired by the preferred pre-design concept. The team also shared the public art elements that accompany the new design alternatives. Both are open for public comment through July 28 and then the team will use the public input to advance the design to the next stage. Additional public engagement will help refine the bridge design and associated aesthetics.
