From Riverbanks to Park Paths, Design Enhancements go from Concept to Design Phase

From ODOT-  The Citizen Advisory Committee and the Project Development Team have recommended final steps to complete design enhancements on the north and the south banks of the Willamette River.



Oregon Department of Transportation project managers approved the recommendations and authorized the Design Enhancement Steering Committee to work with the artists and designers on final designs.

A Kalapuya canoe rendering is proposed on the north bank of the Canoe Canal under Interstate 5.



Selected artists and designers will receive a request for proposals seeking concepts for the canoe rendering on the north bank of the Canoe Canal (above).  The DESC will evaluate each proposal and select the winner by early 2013.  Once selected, the winner will complete the design and install the drawings.

Design enhancements inviting path users to stop and enjoy the view of the river and the bridge will be considered for the south bank.  Photo courtesy of Joe Valasek.


The DESC is also working with landscape architect Cameron McCarthy to develop additional design concepts for the areas located between the paths under the Canoe Canal Bridge, on the north bank under the Whilamut Passage Bridge, and on the south bank.

Changes coming for the south bank path

From ODOT-

You’ve read about a lot of changes to the paths in park recently, and we have one more to report to you, this time on the south bank. This change brings us one step closer to the beautiful new viaduct path.



We’ve built another detour path, about 100 yards long, to accommodate east-west commuters while we build the new viaduct path. We’ll remove a portion of the existing path for this work, which clears the way for restoration work on the stream flowing from Glenwood and the Laurel Hill Valley.

During construction, the new path to the right will route bicyclists and pedestrians to the south so crews will have space to construct the new viaduct path.

We will remove a portion of the existing path to allow us to elevate and replace the path over the stream. Work on the stream restoration can be seen on the left side.

Starting in September, we will build columns for the new viaduct path along this embankment on the north side of Franklin Boulevard and east of the construction work bridge. The finished path will be elevated above the river.

By early 2014, the pedestrian paths on the south bank of the Willamette River under the new Interstate 5 bridges will look much different.

This rendering by Cameron McCathy Landscape Architecture and Planning depicts the completed viaduct path under the new Willamette River Bridges.