Farewell Bend footbridge set for closure, replacement

The Bend Park & Recreation District said Friday it is about to close the Farewell Bend footbridge over the Deschutes River between Farewell Bend and Riverbend Parks in preparation for its replacement.

The bridge project general contractor, Deschutes Construction, is currently mobilizing on site and will take steps to close access to the bridge within the next week,.

Temporary bridge and trail closures and detours will be in place. The current bridge should be removed in May and construction staging will occur on both sides of the river.

Until the new bridge is completed in August, all foot traffic will be detoured to the Bill Healy, Columbia Street and Old Mill bridges.

Intermittent closures of the river, about 100 feet upstream and downstream of the bridge, will occur during demolition of the old bridge and installation of the new bridge.

For project maps, schedules and updates, visit the park district website at www.bendparksandrec.org.

The public is not allowed in the construction zone, but for those interested in viewing the bridge removal and installation, the best vantage point will be from the Farewell Bend Park boardwalk just downstream of the bridge location.

BPRD said it appreciates the community’s patience during construction. Questions regarding the bridge construction should be directed to Brian Hudspeth, BPRD Development Manager, at (541) 706-6137 or brian@bendparksandrec.org.