Jordan River Pedestrian Bridge

Client:

City of Salt Lake

Location:

Salt Lake City, UT

Project Type:

Engineering & Design
Planning & Consulting
Project Management

Market Type:

Transportation

Key Takeaways

Improved Regional Mobility and Access

Enhanced continuous, multi-use trail connectivity within the Jordan River Parkway and Golden Spoke networks.

Resolved Complex Site Restraints

Delivered a rail crossing within a tightly constrained corridor with active rail lines, overhead utilities and contaminated soils.

Optimized Structure and Delivery

Used a tied arch design with prefabricated installation and driven pile foundations to meet clearance and constructability requirements.

About the Project

Pedestrian bridge enhances access, mobility and regional trail connectivity

Stanley Consultants planned, designed and supported construction of a pedestrian and cyclist bridge that linked the Jordan River Parkway Trail to the Golden Spoke Trail Network, connecting over 100 miles of continuous paved trail from Ogden to Provo.

Completing this connection required navigating a highly constrained corridor. The project area was bounded by the Jordan River on one side and three active rail lines, a major electrical substation with high-voltage transmission lines and contaminated soil on the other.

To overcome the site challenges, the team worked closely with city and railroad stakeholders to secure an aerial easement and manage Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) contaminated soils that restricted excavation and shaped the bridge’s foundation design. The resulting 1,200-foot-long tied-arch bridge features a 280-foot main span that clears the rail corridor without intermediate supports. This innovative solution not only fulfilled all necessary clearance requirements but also resulted in a visually distinctive structure within Utah’s landscape.

The bridge was prefabricated and assembled from three sections to facilitate transport to the site and limit disruptions to rail operations. Driven pile foundations were utilized to minimize disturbance to the contaminated soil and demonstrated a commitment to both operational efficiency and environmental stewardship.

With the bridge complete, cyclists and pedestrians can travel over 100 miles on one of the nation’s longest continuous urban trail systems, strengthening regional connectivity and supporting active transportation and recreation.

By The Numbers

1,200

Feet Total Bridge Length
112

Miles Of Trail Connected
3

Rail Lines Crossed

Solutions

Engineering & Design

Engineering and design services at Stanley Consultants combine our robust technical skills with forward-thinking innovation to deliver the highest-quality results.

Engineering Planning & Consulting

At Stanley Consultants, we understand that planning and consulting include every aspect of engineering. Using advanced tools and methods, we deliver designs and master plans focused on longevity, resilience and sustainability to address today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities.

Engineering Project Management

At Stanley Consultants, our project management solutions deliver projects on time, within budget, and within the specifications our clients are seeking. We have a proven track record of successfully managing complex projects across industries ranging from energy to water to transportation. Our methodologies are designed to support an efficient workflow, mitigate risk and address the needs of all stakeholders. Stanley Consultants is an innovative, experienced project management partner you can trust.