Bridging the Bend Central District

A vision for Hawthorne Avenue

For years, people passing through the Bend Central District have expressed a need for safer and more accessible crossings. While Midtown is a short distance to Downtown Bend and surrounding green spaces, the area lacks safe routes to walk, bike, or roll across Bend’s major throughways.

Hawthorne Avenue has been a locus for the discussion around equitable development in the BCD. With the potential to create a well-designed pedestrian bridge that would connect the east and west sides of town, a crossing at Hawthorne lays the groundwork for a more connected city that accommodates pedestrians and bicyclists.

Hawthorne Avenue currently dead-ends at the railroad tracks.

With ample funding available for this infrastructure project from federal, state, and local budgets, it’s time to invest in the Bend Central District.

As a part of community-wide collaboration, civil engineers from Ashley & Vance and urban designers from Tenover Studio have created a concept for the Hawthorne Pedestrian bridge. They will present the vision to City Council tomorrow. Tune in and see a complete concept and design for the bridge.

Show your support!

We need to let City Council know the residents of Bend are behind this project. There are two ways to get involved.

First, you can send a message of support directly to Bend City Council.

We know they are interested in community opinion when it comes to major infrastructure projects. Let them know you have a vision for Bend that includes safe and accessible transportation corridors, connectivity that fosters equitable development, and more pedestrian and bike-friendly throughways.

Second, you can show up in person (virtually) to tomorrow's City Council meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. You'll see the in-depth presentation of the concept for the Hawthorne Bridge along with a number of agenda items that focus on a vision for the Bend Central District. View the Agenda here.