I-5 Pedestrian Bridge

Published 10:08 - 12/23/2019 Updated 14:18 - 07/28/2021

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

The City plans to construct a pedestrian bridge over I-5 and a gateway plaza at its east landing in the Wilsonville Town Center. The pedestrian bridge will provide a critical east/west connection between the proposed Emerald Chain, a greenway that meanders through Town Center, and neighborhoods and the regional trail system to the west of I-5. The gateway plaza will provide a gathering space and gateway into the Wilsonville Town Center. The bridge design will be highly visible to passing motorists, serving as a regional landmark in the heart of Wilsonville.

Since kicking off the project in winter 2020, we've gathered your ideas on important themes and design elements, creating different bridge and plaza concepts for the community to consider. Based on this feedback (summarized below under the Project Updates tab), the City selected the Tied Arch concept for the bridge and a combination of the Drops and Ripples and River Oxbow plaza concepts to move forward for more detailed design work.

The City plans to construct a pedestrian bridge over I-5 and a gateway plaza at its east landing in the Wilsonville Town Center. The pedestrian bridge will provide a critical east/west connection between the proposed Emerald Chain, a greenway that meanders through Town Center, and neighborhoods and the regional trail system to the west of I-5. The gateway plaza will provide a gathering space and gateway into the Wilsonville Town Center. The bridge design will be highly visible to passing motorists, serving as a regional landmark in the heart of Wilsonville.

Since kicking off the project in winter 2020, we've gathered your ideas on important themes and design elements, creating different bridge and plaza concepts for the community to consider. Based on this feedback (summarized below under the Project Updates tab), the City selected the Tied Arch concept for the bridge and a combination of the Drops and Ripples and River Oxbow plaza concepts to move forward for more detailed design work.

  • Initial Design Details Shared with Planning Commission and City Council

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
    supporting image

    Based on community feedback and City Council direction, the project team developed initial design plans (30% Design) for the tied arch bridge and gateway plaza. The plaza design combines elements of the Drops and Ripples and River Oxbow concepts, featuring small seating areas, a meandering pathway, a rain garden, and small lawn and plaza areas. At two work sessions in March, the project team presented Planning Commission and City Council an aesthetics package containing a variety of options and design considerations for the bridge and plaza to respond to feedback and preferences received during prior public outreach efforts. Items for future consideration include bridge lighting, safety fencing design, retaining wall treatment, and specific plaza design details. Check back for opportunities to share your preferences on these details as the project team refines the bridge and plaza design!

  • City selects a preferred bridge type and plaza design!

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
    supporting image

    Thanks to the participation of many community members, the City selected a preferred bridge type and plaza design! In September and October 2020, we presented your input to both Planning Commission and City Council. Based on this input, City Council choose the Tied Arch bridge as they felt it best represented the community’s feedback. Given the popularity of the Drops and Ripples and River Oxbow plaza concepts, the Planning Commission and City Council agreed that a design approach combining the highest-rated elements from the two concepts will be used as the basis for the final plaza design. The project team will work towards developing more detailed versions of these plans in the coming months. We will continue to update this page as we move on to the design phase of the project this fall and winter. Make sure to check back in for updates!

  • Summer 2020 Outreach - Bridge and Plaza Concepts

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Based on input from the first phase of outreach, the project team created three design concepts for the bridge and plaza that incorporate this feedback. To narrow down the options we released a survey in August 2020 asking for your opinion on which design elements are most important to you and which concepts you think are the best fit for Wilsonville. Around 300 people took the survey and gave feedback on their preferences. In addition to conducting a survey, we hosted three virtual open house sessions where we heard feedback from over 50 participants. Click here to review a summary of the input from this round of outreach.

  • Winter 2020 Outreach - Project Themes and Design Elements

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    In winter 2020 the City conducted the first round of public outreach for the project. We held an open house in February where over 50 attendees participated in activities centered on themes and design elements for the bridge and plaza. We also released an online survey for the community to provide feedback and ideas regarding the design of the bridge. Nearly 150 people contributed design ideas to the project by taking the survey. Click here to review a summary of the input from this round of outreach.