After 13 Years of Heavy Use, Confluence Land Bridge To Get Major Upgrade

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Colin Fogarty
Executive Director
colin@confluenceproject.org
503-720-3112

After 13 Years of Heavy Use, Confluence Land Bridge To Get Major Upgrade

VANCOUVER, Wash. – After 13 years of heavy use by pedestrians, runners, and visitors, the Confluence Land Bridge is set to undergo a major refurbishment. The repaving and renovation project by the City of Vancouver, in partnership with the nonprofit group Confluence, will take three months and cause the temporary closure of the bridge.

This architectural footpath that crosses over State Highway 14 is one of 5 completed Confluence sites along the Columbia River system, developed in collaboration with northwest Tribes to connect visitors and residents with the Indigenous history and cultures of the region. The Land Bridge is the only Confluence site that was not designed by the acclaimed artist Maya Lin. Seattle architect Johnpaul Jones designed the project, which was completed in 2008 and has won accolades from around the world.

“The Land Bridge is well loved by the communities of southwest Washington and visitors from afar,” said Colin Fogarty, executive director of Confluence. “We are grateful to the City of Vancouver for its commitment to conserve this ‘monument of the land’ for future generations to enjoy. Outdoor spaces that connect us with the Indigenous cultures of our region are more important than ever.”

Beginning in mid-October, the Land Bridge will close as construction crews replace the deteriorating decomposed granite pathway with architectural pavers, which will last longer and are more easily replaced when damaged. The project will cost an estimated $350,000 and follows upgrades to the bridge’s lighting and irrigation system.

In addition, new artwork will be installed at the People Overlook feature of the bridge, designed to honor Columbia River Tribes and diverse community that lived next to historic Fort Vancouver. The celebrated Warm Springs artist Lillian Pitt will install six new basalt columns inlaid with images inspired by traditional petroglyphs from of Columbia River tribes. Confluence will also install new name plates at the People Overlook, listing nine Native words for “people,” reflecting the linguistic and cultural complexities of the Indigenous people of the region.

The Land Bridge was featured in a New York Times profile on May 24, 2021.

Confluence is a community supported nonprofit with the mission to connect people to the history, living cultures, and ecology of the Columbia River system through Indigenous voices. The group has completed 5 art installations that stretch from the mouth of the Columbia River to the banks of the Snake River in southeastern Washington. Confluence has also developed a series of educational programs in schools and public gatherings, designed to elevate Indigenous voices in our understanding of the Columbia River system.

While the Land Bridge is closed, bicyclists and pedestrians traveling the Columbia River Renaissance Trail can still access the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site using the Discovery Historic Loop Trail through downtown Vancouver to Evergreen Boulevard. To view a map of the Discovery Historic Loop Trail, visit Discovery Loop Trail.

###