Project Information
The goal of the project is to determine the best solution for the replacement of a wooden walkway bridge located in Picture Canyon, crossing the Rio De Flag northwest of the Wildcat Hill Waste Water Treatment Plant, at the junction of three separate trails. The Arizona Trail, the Flagstaff Urban Trail System, and the Educational Loop Trail all connect at one location where a small (15-feet wide) pedestrian bridge is currently located.
Specifications
With the ever-changing flood plains of the local area, the required larger bridge will support pedestrians, equestrian personnel, and bicyclists as well as service vehicles. Since the City of Flagstaff does not have a bridge design code, the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (2012) and the AISC Steel Code will be the technical standards designed to. The abutments for the new walkway will be built higher to accommodate the 100-year flood plain of the Picture Canyon Preserve and Cultural Park, as well. All site details, including the 100-year flood plain elevation and topographic maps, will be provided to us by the City of Flagstaff. A condition evaluation of the BNSF bridge will take place, checking for any signs of rust, serious damage, and bent bars or beams. Existing conditions of the site will later be determined after a site visit is scheduled with the main stakeholders which include: Bret Petersen (Senior Project Manager), Karl Eberhard (Community Design and Redevelopment Manager), and Martin Ince (Multi-Modal Planner), all of whom work for the City of Flagstaff. Additionally, the users of the trail systems, including hikers, bicyclists, and equestrian personnel, are important investors in this pathway.