Task Force to Recommend Two Preferred Bridge Designs at Dec. 5 Meeting

November 28, 2018 – The French Prairie Bridge Task Force, a 21-member group representing a wide array of stakeholder values and interests, is meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 5, to review and evaluate design concepts for the proposed French Prairie Bike-Ped-Emergency Bridge over the Willamette River. 

The meeting, 6-9 pm, takes place at Wilsonville City Hall, 29799 SW Town Center Loop E.

Project managers are providing the Task Force with an overview of five bridge types under consideration, including input gathered from the Technical Advisory Committee and public open house events. The Task Force is charged with recommending two bridge designs for further consideration.

Subject to approval by the City Council, the two designs advanced by the Task Force will undergo a more extensive evaluation by the project team and the Council. This work, which includes a refinement of project impacts and development of construction cost estimates, will inform the selection of a preferred bridge type this spring.

In partnership with Clackamas County, Metro, and the Oregon Department of Transportation, the City is funding the work now underway to identify the preferred site, type and cost of the proposed bridge to determine whether to pursue final design and construction.

If completed, the French Prairie Bridge would provide both a safe route for cyclists and pedestrians to cross the Willamette River, add an incident response alternative to I-5 for emergency responders and connect 1,000 miles of trails in the tri-county area to the 134-mile Willamette Valley scenic bikeway.

The five bridge types under consideration are designed specific to the location unanimously approved by the Wilsonville City Council and Clackamas County Board of Commissioners earlier this year. 

The meeting is open the public, providing an opportunity for community members to provide comments and listen to Task Force deliberation.  

For more information, visit FrenchPrairieBridgeProject.org or contact Zach Weigel, Civil Engineer, at 503-570-1565; weigel@ci.wilsonville.or.us.

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