• Hawthorne Crossing

    Hawthorne Crossing

    Online Open House

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  • Welcome!

  • We’re excited to give an update on the progress being made on the Hawthorne Crossing! After extensive planning and public outreach, we now have a concept design for the new bicycle and pedestrian bridge to connect east and west Bend.

    Today you can:

    • Learn about the project goals, timeline, and what we’ve heard from the community.
    • Learn about the new truss bridge type and its iconic mountain design.
    • Share your comments on how you would use the bridge to travel around Bend.

  • Overview

  • The Hawthorne Crossing will connect Hawthorne Avenue with a bridge over both the railroad and the Bend Parkway (U.S. 97). This will create a calmer, safer connection for people biking, walking and rolling between east and west Bend.  

    The project is now in the preliminary design phase. With federal funding requirements, ODOT will manage the project, partnering with the City of Bend to achieve the bridge vision and support local road design development.   

  • Why do we need a new bridge? 

    The City has long been divided by U.S. 97 and the railroad, both of which run north-south. When the Bend Parkway was built in the 1990s, the divide between the east and west sides of the community grew. West Bend has more walking, rolling, and cycling access to goods and services, while east Bend is showing early signs of urban sprawl, with fewer resources within walking distance. The Hawthorne Crossing will help connect east and west Bend, improving travel options and enhancing livability.

    The bridge will support the City’s overall goals for sustainable growth and livability by helping to reduce vehicle miles traveled through increased walking, biking, and transit use.

  • Project area map showing key routes and the new Hawthorne crossing bridge location.
    Click the image to enlarge in a new tab.

  • Benefits of the new east-west route 

    • Connection: Provide a connection between downtown, the Central District, and many popular destinations, as well as transit and mobility hubs. 
    • Safety: Provide a safer, more comfortable and more visible route for biking and walking.
    • Mobility: Offers a wide pathway that encourages slower bike speeds to keep it safe for people walking or using mobility devices.
    • Access: Improve access to jobs, schools, services and other daily needs, especially for people in the area with limited incomes and people walking, using a mobility device, or riding a bike.
    • Economic Development: Support the vision of the Bend Core Area Plan. The nearby industrial area is intended to transition to a mixed-use area, supporting complete community goals to co-locate housing and employment alongside community services and amenities.
    • Reduce congestion: Allow travelers a safe and comfortable alternative to driving which can help ease congestion.
    • Environmental sustainability: Invest in active travel options that can help improve air quality. 

  • Timeline and Funding

  • Current phase

    The current project phase is to design the new bridge. What we know so far is that the bridge will:

    • Be an iconic bridge that connects Hawthorne Avenue over U.S. 97 and the railroad.
    • Provide an 18-foot shared-use path for people walking, biking or rolling.
    • Have landings that connect to Hill and Second streets.
    • Connect to street level improvements that feed into the pedestrian and bicycle network at Harriman and Second streets. 

    We still need to decide: 

    • Visual treatments on the bridge.
    • How the bridge will connect to the priority pedestrian and bicycle streets, Bend’s Low Stress Network.
    • Where to place the footings for the bridge support.
    • How to construct the bridge and limit impacts to the traveling public and nearby buildings.

  • Project timeline from 2025 to 2028 showing design phases, bidding in 2027, and construction in 2028.
    Click the image to enlarge in a new tab.

  • Funding

    The total bridge cost is expected to be approximately $32 million. $31 million will come from state and federal funding sources and the City of Bend is contributing $1 million in local funds.

  • A Bridge Shaped by Feedback

  • Design

    • The public liked the concept of a “Three Sisters” theme, reflecting the surrounding views.
    • Building an iconic bridge that enhances the character of Bend is important to many people.
    • It should also fit within the cityscape that is developing around this area.
    • A nod to Old Bend history would also be appreciated.

    Connectivity

    • Safety, accessibility, and connectivity are key to the success of this new bridge.
    • Most participants were in favor of closing the Parkway exit. It feels unsafe to travel here and with the new bridge would be even more difficult to navigate.

    Long-term Planning

    • Participants want to ensure ongoing maintenance is not a high burden.

    "This bridge is a key step to elevate Bend in terms of sustainability, health, and becoming a people-forward city.” - Bend resident

  • Network Connectivity

    We are beginning a study on connecting the bridge to the existing roadway network and how to make travel by bike comfortable and easy. While design or construction on these connections will not be included in this phase of the bridge project, your feedback helps the City of Bend plan for longer-term improvements.

  • Use the map below to explore destinations near the new bridge.

    Map Legend

    •  
      Key Biking and Walking Routes
    •  
      New Bridge Location

  • New truss bridge type with mountain theme

    The Hawthorne Crossing bridge type has been selected as a steel truss style structure with a mountain design theme.

    Why this change and how it meets community goals

    • This new bridge type will be easier to construct as it won’t require a footing in the middle of the parkway. The truss structure can also be manufactured offsite and then lifted into place, requiring less construction time.
    • This bridge type is lower cost to build and also has lower annual maintenance costs.
    • The abstract mountain theme will provide a unique design and compatible size and height for the surrounding area.
  •   Design rendering of the single tower cable-stayed bridge option. Design rendering of the broken top truss bridge option.
    CONSIDERATION SINGLE TOWER CABLE-STAYED * BROKEN TOP TRUSS
    Project Cost $34-41M $30-37M
    Maintenance High Low
    Aesthetics High High
    Constructability Difficult Easy
    Parkway Visual Impact (Land Use Compatibility) Medium High
    ** Unique Identifier of Bend - High

    * 2025 updated cost estimate

    ** Indicates consideration not included in 2024 Visioning Study

    * scroll to the right to view more

  • How we got here

    The new Hathorne Crossing bridge is being designed to evoke the breath-taking mountain scenery surrounding Bend. The jagged peaks will be represented in steel to carry people east-west across the busy Parkway and railroad tracks.

    Genius loci – a Latin term meaning “spirit of the place” that originally referred to the guardian deity of a location. It can also describe the unique atmosphere, character, and distinctive essence of a place.

  • What we are planning to build

    This design features three mountain peaks to travel over the Parkway and railroad tracks.

    These images present renderings of the new mountain theme truss bridge design. Details are still in development, and we look forward to sharing the full designs with you in 2026.

  • Traveling this new route

  • All project maps and diagrams below are clickable to enlarge in a new tab.

    Overview of the Bridge Layout

    This project will look at the bridge design itself, but also street improvements between Hill Street and Harriman Street, and from Second Street to Third Street.

  • Aerial map of Hawthorne Avenue showing planned street improvements, west and east landings, approaches on both sides, and the central bridge segment crossing Bend Parkway and the railroad. The map extends from NW Harriman Street through NE 3rd Street.

  • Connecting the City to the bridge 

  • In order to connect the bridge to the rest of the City, we are looking at how to improve Hill Street to Harriman Street and Second Street to Third Street to accommodate the increase in bicycles here. There are four options to consider: Shared Street, Promenade Street, Buffered Bike Lanes, or Two Way Cycle Track.

  • Shared Street 

    This option would include:

    • Two-way traffic with shared vehicle and bike lanes.
    • On-street parking pockets (north and south sides of street).

  • Plan view of NW Hawthorne Avenue showing proposed street design between NW Harriman Street and NW Hill Street, including parking areas, plantings, travel lanes, and a raised 4-way-stop intersection at NW Hill Street. The NW Harriman intersection is marked as under study.

    West side street plans (Harriman to Hill).

  • Plan view of NW Hawthorne Avenue between 2nd Street and 3rd Street showing a raised 4-way-stop intersection at 2nd Street, parking areas along both sides, planted landscape zones, and two eastbound travel lanes approaching 3rd Street.

    East side street plans (Second to Third).

  • Promenade Street

    This option would include:

    • A raised shared pedestrian and bike way on the south side of the street.
    • One-way westbound vehicular lane.
    • On-street parking pockets on the north side of the street.
    • Additional planting areas.

  • Plan view of NW Hawthorne Avenue from NW Harriman Street to NW Hill Street showing proposed streetscape with landscaped planting areas, parallel parking zones, one eastbound travel lane, and a raised 4-way-stop intersection at NW Hill Street. The NW Harriman intersection is labeled as under study.

    West side street plans (Harriman to Hill).

  • Plan view of NW Hawthorne Avenue from 2nd Street to 3rd Street showing a raised 4-way-stop at 2nd Street, landscaped planting areas, parallel parking zones, and one eastbound travel lane leading to 3rd Street.

    East side street plans (Second to Third).

  • Buffered Bike Lanes

    This option would include:

    • Dedicated buffered bike lanes on both sides of the street.
    • One-way westbound vehicular lane.
    • On-street parking pockets on the south side of the street.
    • Additional planting areas.

  • Plan view of NW Hawthorne Avenue from NW Harriman Street to NW Hill Street showing a center-running bike lane, landscaped planting areas, parallel parking zones, one eastbound travel lane, and a raised 4-way-stop intersection at NW Hill Street. The NW Harriman intersection is marked as under study.

    West side street plans (Harriman to Hill).

  • Plan view of NW Hawthorne Avenue from 2nd Street to 3rd Street showing a center-running bike lane in both directions, landscaped planting areas, parallel parking zones, one eastbound travel lane, and a raised 4-way-stop intersection at 2nd Street.

    East side street plans (Second to Third).

  • The Two Way Cycle Track

    This option would include:

    • Dedicated two-way protected bike way on the south side of the street.
    • One-way westbound vehicular lane.
    • On-street parking pockets on the north side of the street.
    • Additional planting areas.

  • Two way cycle track plan view of NW Hawthorne Avenue from NW Harriman Street to NW Hill Street showing a south-side two-way protected bike lane, landscaped planting areas, parallel parking on the north side, one eastbound travel lane, and a raised 4-way-stop intersection at NW Hill Street. The NW Harriman intersection is marked as under study.

    West side street plans (Harriman to Hill).

  • Two way cycle track plan view of NW Hawthorne Avenue from 2nd Street to 3rd Street showing a two-way protected bike lane on the south side, landscaped planting areas, parallel parking on the north side, one eastbound travel lane, and a raised 4-way-stop intersection at 2nd Street.

    East side street plans (Second to Third).

  • Getting on to the bridge

    A big part of designing the new bridge includes thinking about the experience for people traveling to and across the bridge. This includes interacting with other users on and off the bridge, movement across the bridge, places to stop and enjoy the views, and feeling safe.

    To make getting to and coming off the bridge accessible, we are thinking about the approaches and intersections at either end. The bridge connections, or approaches, will include:

    • Raised intersections at Second Street and Hill Street with large corner curbs (bump outs) to increase visibility of pedestrian areas.
    • Planting areas to keep traffic slow and make the area more welcoming and shady.

  • West bridge landing plan view of NW Hawthorne Avenue from NW Hill Street to US 97 showing a raised 4-way-stop intersection at NW Hill Street, a shared drive connection, landscaped planting zones, the east landing and approach to the bridge, and the bridge section labeled as under study for slope and extent.

    West bridge landing plan (Hill Street to bridge).

  • Cross-section of a 60-foot corridor showing an 18-foot sidewalk and planting zone on the west side, a 22-foot bridge section, an 18-foot shared use path centered on the bridge, and a 20-foot planting and sidewalk area on the east side, with people walking and biking illustrated.

    The west side of the bridge cross section.

  • Cross-section of a 60-foot corridor showing a 24-foot one-way traffic lane with sidewalk on the west side, a planting buffer, a 22-foot bridge section with an 18-foot shared use path, and a 14-foot planting and sidewalk area on the east side, with people walking and biking illustrated.

    The east side of the bridge cross section.

  • East bridge landing plan view of NW Hawthorne Avenue from 1st Street to 2nd Street showing parking under the bridge, landscaped planting areas, the bridge section under study, an east landing and approach, one eastbound travel lane, and a raised 4-way-stop intersection at 2nd Street.

    East bridge landing plan (from bridge to Second Street).

  • Crossing the bridge

    The 18-foot-wide pathway will likely be shared by people on bikes, walking and rolling and needs to feel safe for all modes of travel. The bridge and landings at each end will be designed to slow down bikes and help bridge users merge with street traffic. Ways that we can increase comfort and safety on shared use paths and help modes of travel merge, include:

    • Narrowing the bike space and adding stop signs for bikes before entering traffic.
    • Ramps (sloped) and landings (flat) on the bridge will be intermittent, designed to slow bike travel.
    • Pavement treatments can vary, giving a visual cue to slow down (for example, poured concrete can be colored, stamped or scored to create different patterns on the path).
    • Signage to indicate shared use.
    • Other visual or physical features that draw attention and cause people to go more slowly.

  • Stopping on the bridge

    Some people may want to go slowly and stop to enjoy views from the bridge. We are still determining how the bridge will look and feel. Especially these elements that people using the bridge will interact with most, such as railings, seating and pavement.

    Bridge Slope

    With the available space to build the bridge, and the height needed to get over the railroad tracks, the bridge slope will be up to 8%. This is within accessibility recommendations but may be a bit steeper than some like. We are looking at options to adapt the bridge length to make it less steep, but there are drawbacks. A longer gentler slope could be provided with a shorter landing at the end of the bridge. This leaves less space for stopping after the ramp down.  

    We will continue to develop these options and discuss the benefits and drawbacks with the mobility committee to determine the best solution for this location.  

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  • Nearby Bend Project Updates

  • All project maps and diagrams below are clickable to enlarge in a new tab.

    Midtown Crossings Project

    Franklin Avenue Update

    Following recommendations from the Core Area Advisory Board (CAAB) & Transportation Bond Oversight Committee (TBOC), this project will be advancing one more construction package for council approval in early 2026.

    If approved by council, this project will make walking, biking, and rolling safer on Franklin Avenue from Harriman Street to Fifth Street. Franklin Avenue is a popular route for walking and biking but can be congested near the undercrossing and travelers often have little separation from each other.

    This project will:

    • Improve the street and sidewalk on both the east and west sides of the undercrossing to better use the space and make travel more comfortable. (Due to traffic impacts and costs, no changes will be made to the undercrossing bridges and tunnels.)
    • Improve the pedestrian routes and safety.
    • Improve Franklin’s connection to NW Harriman Street, NE First Street, NE Second Street, and NE Fourth Street, which are all part of the city’s low-stress network for biking and walking.
    • Create continuity with the new Bend Bikeway on Franklin from NE Fifth Street to Eighth Street and at Harriman Street. Franklin Ave from Fifth to Eighth Street is currently under construction to complete improvements.
    • Improve stormwater drainage to reduce flooding.
    • Replace aging waterlines and bring them up to current standards.

    Franklin Avenue Improvements

    • The ‘More Separation Design’ was chosen for the new Franklin Avenue improvements between Harriman Street to NE Fifth Street. This option was preferred by the public because of the increased separation between modes of travel.
    • The key feature of this design is that it provides landscaping between the bike lane and vehicle lane, and a second landscaping strip between the sidewalk and bike lane.
    • On street parking was an important consideration for future growth in the Midtown area and is retained along Franklin where possible.

    Illustrated street view of Franklin Avenue at the 2nd Street and 3rd Street intersections showing sidewalks, landscape buffers, protected bike paths on both sides, multiple travel lanes, a center turn lane, bus stop area, and marked pedestrian crossings with people walking, biking, and driving.

  • Bend Bikeways Project

    The City is designing a variety of safer and more accessible bike and pedestrian routes throughout the community, including the Bend Bikeway Project that will make the most of the existing system to build one connected and protected North-South and one East-West key route. Hawthorne Crossing will provide a more comfortable alternative to Franklin Avenue and Greenwood Avenue for crossing the Parkway.

    Map of Bend showing planned bikeway treatments, existing shared-use paths, neighborhood greenways, and partner project locations along routes including Galveston Avenue, Franklin Avenue, Greenwood Avenue, Bear Creek Road, and 27th Street, with ongoing and planned projects labeled.

  • Olney Avenue Improvements Project

    This project is replacing aging water and sewer infrastructure along Olney, between NW Wall Street and NE First Street, and will also make it a safer road to drive, walk, bike and roll. Olney Avenue connects to schools, parks, trails, businesses and more — places that kids, parents, commuters and others in the City traveling east to west need to reach. But it’s a tough stretch to safely travel when walking, biking or rolling — which also makes it a stressful route to drive.

    Water Improvements on Olney Avenue: The Olney Avenue project is replacing undersized, brittle water lines from the 1950s that are made from cast iron pipe. Replacement of waterline work is essential to prevent future pipe ruptures, create a flexible water system for emergency response, support Bend’s growth and meet updated fire flow requirements.

    Sewer Improvements on Olney Avenue: Most of the existing main sewer lines along this section of Olney Avenue were installed in the 1970s. The project will shorten the City’s sewer force main line as well as upsize the sewer gravity main line to support the growing demands on Bend’s sewer system. These improvements significantly reduce risk and maintenance on one of the City’s most critical sewer lines.

    Cross-section illustration showing sidewalks, bike lanes, travel lanes, and trees above ground, with replacement of an 18-inch water main, 12-inch stormwater pipes, and a 36-inch sewer main shown below the roadway.

    Both the water line and sewer line are being replaced under the railroad, adding to construction time and project complexity.

    Construction on Olney Avenue is underway and a temporary opening of the road in early 2026 is being coordinated with BNSF Railway.

    Because final paving, striping, and landscaping require warmer weather, these finishing project touches can’t be completed until spring 2026. A two-week full closure is expected in April 2026 to complete final paving and striping.

  • Next Steps

    Thank you for participating in this online open house.

    Your feedback will help us confirm that we are moving in the right direction for this work. 

    Sign up for project emails to stay in touch and learn more as we move forward.

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