Washington County’s Department of Land Use and Transportation in a joint effort with the Five Oaks/Triple Creek Neighborhood Association are installing a bicycle and pedestrian bridge across Willow Creek that will connect 4.2 miles of paved shoulders, pathways, and sidewalks on Walker Road for improved bicycle and pedestrian access.
The design and production of the bridge cost $75,000. It was prefabricated and is easily movable in case the county decides to widen Walker Road in the future. Because it is built to be one piece, the bridge should require minimal maintenance and is expected to see a 75-year lifespan.
Construction of the approaches to the bridge is beginning today, and it is expected to be open for use in early August. Join Mayor Denny Doyle and County Commissioners Desari Strader and Dick Schouten for a ribbon-cutting and “first-crossing” ceremony on August 4th at noon in the parking lot of Youngnak Presbyterian Church at 17415 NW Walker Road.
Find more information on the new bridge here.
Hats off to Washington County, as well as to the Five Oaks/Tripe Creek neighborhood association for their commitment to building safe and accessible routes for active transportation!
That’s a great pedestrian improvement, but most bike commuters aren’t going to use it. That area has no bike lanes and a very narrow shoulder, with a downhill to the creekbed – commuters who use Walker Road typically take the downhill at high speed, and this bridge is not built to accommodate that. (as a MUP, it shouldn’t accommodate high-speed bike traffic) Will the BTA advocate for improvements in this location and along the other parts of Walker Road that lack shoulders / bike lanes?
I take Walker Road west-bound over Willow Creek on my homebound trip each day.
When I saw the construction on the south side of walker, heading east, I was hopeful another was in store for the direction I traverse.
I guess not.
Hey, maybe this is a bit offf topic but in any case, I have been surfing about your blog and it looks really neat
I thought the topics you posted on were very interesting,and i love the picture.