It's no cinematic walk along the beach, but a leisurely stroll over Tempe Town Lake will soon be possible.
The Tempe City Council awarded T.Y. Lin International the service contract to build a new pedestrian bridge over Tempe Town Lake Thursday.
The bridge will be located on the west end of the lake, on top of the existing piers of the downstream dam. It will connect the existing paths on the north shore with those of the south shore and the Mill Avenue District, according to the Tempe Town Lake Web site.
"We're seeking a pedestrian bridge that combines a unique aesthetic and architecture feel," said Rio Salado Project Manager Nancy Ryan. "It will serve as a functional icon for Tempe Town Lake."
The bridge will be at least 16 feet across, enabling multiple bikers, runners, walkers or sightseers to pass each other simultaneously, according to Tempe city documents.
Although T.Y. Lin International and the city of Tempe have yet to begin the design process on the bridge, Ryan said the bridge would be very unique.
The bridge, which will cost about $6 million, will offer observation and rest points, security gates at both ends and a lighting system enabling the bridge to be used at all hours of the night, according to Tempe city documents.
The bridge will bring a new level of convenience for pedestrians, said Tempe Public Works Deputy Manager Andy Goh, who is also an engineer with the city.
"It will be a multi-use path," Goh said. "Instead of people going all the way around the lake, they will now be able to go straight over."
This pedestrian bridge is only one part of the improvements planned for Tempe Town Lake.
"Part of our long-term goal is to create a complete loop around Tempe Town Lake," Ryan said. "So eventually, look for a pedestrian crossing on the east side of the lake as well."
Ryan estimated that the design phase will last about nine months. City officials hope to begin construction on the bridge in early 2008, he said.
After construction begins, the bridge could be completed in as quickly as one year, said city engineer Mark Weber.
Choosing a contractor for such a large project was difficult said Weber, but in the end, Tempe officials believed that T.Y. Lin International, which has earned multiple awards for its bridge design, was the "highest-qualified firm."
The new bridge is one of many improvements the city of Tempe is making in order to transform the city into a more pedestrian-friendly destination.
Reach the reporter at: matthew.pagel@asu.edu.
