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.

New paths will feature safety improvements.

From ODOT-

ODOT is working closely with the cities of Eugene and Springfield to enhance and improve safety on pedestrian paths along the banks of the Willamette River near the new Interstate 5 bridges. Some changes are already in place but most will be finished in late 2013 or early 2014.



Crews have repaved and striped the Canoe Canal Path and the paved paths on the north and south banks of the river under the bridges. They are also minimizing dangerous corners and intersections and eliminating a large drop in the path on the north end of the Knickerbocker Bridge. Path users will see new landscaping, including native species of trees, shrubs, flowers and prairie grass. A new path on the south bank of the river will link existing routes and provide great views of the river. It will start east of the Knickerbocker Bridge, follow the riverbank under the I-5 bridges and connect to Franklin Boulevard. The city of Springfield plans to extend this new path to the intersection of Glenwood Boulevard and Franklin Boulevard.



We enjoy working with local partners to make these path improvements for the benefit of users for years to come.

Expect delays of up to 20 minutes on the Canoe Canal Path

From ODOT-

Users of the Canoe Canal Path under I-5 in the Whilamut Natural Area will be subject to delays of up to 20 minutes between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday (Feb. 21 and 22) for construction work.



The delays will allow contractors to safely install beams for the new northbound I-5 Canoe Canal Bridge. Crews will place the beams over the path using cranes on the old temporary Canoe Canal Bridge.



For your safety, please obey signs and flaggers directing path traffic in the work zone.



Thank you for your patience!

Canoe Canal — what a difference

From ODOT-

The photos below show the dramatic changes to the walls of the Canoe Canal. Slayden Construction, one of the contractors working on the Willamette River Bridge project, is responsible for the recently completed transformation.



Lowering the walls makes the canal more visible and opens up the embankments on both sides. Crews will complete landscaping and design enhancements by early 2014.



We will replace the temporary wooden railing with a standard steel railing. When the work is finished, path users can walk, run or ride alongside the water, as well as stop to enjoy the canal and reminders of the Kalapuya culture.

This picture, taken in April 2011, shows the Canoe Canal looking east where it passes under Interstate 5 and the Canoe Canal Bridge. The concrete walls along the canal appear as originally constructed in 1974.

This picture, taken this month, also shows the Canoe Canal looking east as it passes under I-5. Walls on both sides are lower and the banks extended. The area on the right side will include both a soft and a hard path separated by a landscaped area.

The best of both worlds for walkers and cyclists

From ODOT-

Not only is ODOT building a new Interstate 5 bridge over the Willamette River, but we are also improving park paths in the project area. Pedestrians and bicyclists will enjoy greater safety as a result of our cooperation with local communities to improve the paths.



When bridge construction began, we built a new paved path in the Eastgate Woodlands area of the Whilamut Natural Area, making bike commuting safer by eliminating dangerous blind corners.



With this new Eastgate Woodlands path in place, we closed a hazardous portion of the Canoe Canal path under Walnut Road Bridge and made plans to convert the paved path to a soft path for runners and walkers.

Crews tear up the old concrete path near Walnut Road to replace it with a soft path.



The first step was for our contractor to remove the old pavement and replace it with a new soft path. They also built stairs from Walnut Road to give walkers easy access to the new path.



Bike commuters now have a safer paved bike path, while runners and walkers enjoy the softer surface of the new Canoe Canal path. It’s the best of both worlds.

Above is a picture of the newly completed soft path in the Whilamut Natural Area that runs under Walnut Road.