PASADENA, Calif.—A contractor recently completed the fabrication and installation of full-scale mock-up panels of three vertical barrier design concepts at the Colorado Street Bridge. Panels are installed at two separate locations along the bridge to provide different vantage points for visualization. The public is invited to review the full-scale barrier mock-ups online and share their comments with the City of Pasadena at www.surveymonkey.com/r/CGJL5J8 by May 31. Photos of the barrier mock-ups as well as drone footage will soon be available on the project webpage.
The City began seeking a permanent and responsibly-designed enhancement to the Colorado Street Bridge railing in 2017 to serve as an effective suicide deterrent while preserving the national historic character and significance of the bridge. Since then, the Department of Public Works and Donald MacDonald Architects have engaged the public in developing barrier design options, taking into consideration the feedback and advisement of the City’s Historic Preservation Commission, the Design Commission and the Public Safety Committee.
In early 2020, the Public Safety Committee requested full-scale mock-ups be constructed of the preferred designs for better visualization and evaluation by the public before choosing a specific design concept. The Department of Public Works and Donald MacDonald Architects will host a virtual open house from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, to review the three design options with the community, present photos/videos of the mock-ups, and introduce the City’s project webpage, along with the online public opinion survey. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A. The virtual open house will be recorded and available on the project’s webpage for those unable to attend the live session.
Following the open house, the Department of Public Works will meet with the City’s Historic Preservation Commission, the Design Commission and the Public Safety Committee to share public feedback, and seek advisement and recommendations on a single barrier design to take to the City Council for approval. Presentation to the Historic Preservation Commission is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 20.
Visit the project webpage for additional details. Questions regarding the project should be directed to the project team at ColoradoStBridge@cityofpasadena.net.