City to Host French Prairie Bridge Design Open House on October 18
September 27, 2018 — The City of Wilsonville is hosting an open house to review initial design concepts for the proposed French Prairie ‘Bike-Ped-Emergency’ Bridge across the Willamette River. This public meeting is being held on Thursday, Oct. 18, 5-7 pm, at Wilsonville City Hall, 29799 SW Town Center Loop E.
Project leaders are unveiling five different bridge-type designs for public consideration; each design accommodates daily use by cyclists and pedestrians as well as special use by emergency services vehicles as needed.
For two years, regional and community leaders have worked toward realizing a 20-year vision to better connect the region’s expansive trail system. Upon completion of this project, the Portland Metro Ice Age Tonquin Trail would connect with the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway to fill a critical gap in local and regional multi-modal transportation infrastructure.
The 21-member French Prairie Bridge Project Advisory Task Force is meeting to review public testimony on the five design options later this fall. The Task Force is scheduled to make its final design recommendation to the City Council and County Board of Commissioners in early 2019.
Earlier this year, the Wilsonville City Council and Clackamas County Board of Commissioners approved the bridge alignment recommended by Task Force. North of the river, the alignment connects to the west shoulder of SW Boones Ferry Road in Boones Ferry Park. The south end of the bridge connects to NE Butteville Road opposite the Clackamas County Boones Ferry Boat Launch parking lot.
More details are available online at FrenchPrairieBridgeProject.org, including an online open house and survey for residents to provide input if unable to attend the meeting. Those interested can also sign-up to receive project updates and submit comments or questions about the project.
For more information, contact Zachary Weigel, PE, Project Manager, at 503 570-1565; weigel@ci.wilsonville.or.us.
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