Hosted by AmericanTrails.org

New Colorado River crossing is a bridge to somewhere

The Colorado Riverway Bridge, located in Moab, Utah, was conceptualized 9 years ago and opened on May 16, 2008.

	The Colorado Riverway bicycle and pedestrian ridge

From the Fall 2008 American Trails Magazine

By Kimberly Schappert

This bridge is a mass of steel and concrete transformed into a beautiful, safe, and welcoming crossing over one of the most scenic and historically significant rivers of the United States: the Colorado River in eastern Utah. THe new bridge represents an attitude of the people who live in Moab, that they care about their community, they acknowledge the future, and that they have incredible respect for their home.

They have built a bridge that will serve everyone for many, many years to come. It will weather with the elements and grow more beautiful as it rests in its surroundings and becomes a familiar fixture of the landscape. It is a gift to themselves to share with others. It is a connection to the remarkable public lands that surround them. We think it will serve as an inspiration for more people to get outside more often.

The Colorado Riverway Bridge is also a key element of the North Moab Recreation Areas alternative transportation system.

The new bridge spans the wide Colorado River on the edge of Moab, Utah

Within 5 years it will be possible to walk or ride a bike from Moab City to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and Dead Horse Point State Park. It will be possible to walk or ride on the Colorado River Pathway along the banks of this mighty waterway with Great Blue Heron and Desert Big Horn Sheep sightings along the way.

This is a bold and progressive vision that recognizes the need of communities to offer safe, alternative transportation that emphasizes health and fitness and reduces the use of fossil fuels.

The many partners, along with numerous private donors, include:

• Bikes Belong
• Bureau of Land Management
• Federal Highway Administration
• Grand County and its agencies
• Moab City
• Moab Trails Alliance
• National Park Service
• Utah State Parks - Trails and Pathways Program
• Utah Department of Transportation

For more information contact Kimberly Schappert at (435) 259-2213.

Related topics:

Accessible trails
Construction
Greenways
Management
Planning
Safe Trails Forum
Urban trails

More resources:

Cool Trail Solutions
Bibliography
Quotations
Glossary
Acronyms
Tools
Products & services

For more opportunities for training on trail design, construction, and management see the National Trails Training Partnership area.