new pedestrian bridge at arizona state university set for construction

In an effort to provide its students with a new walking route alternative, Arizona State University at Tempe is on the verge of building a pedestrian overpass that will go up near one of the city’s busiest intersection.

The $15 million structure, called a skybridge, will be built over E. University Drive near the corner of S. Rural Road.

Upon completion, the structure will connect the school’s new Interdisciplinary Science and Technology 7 building on the south side of the campus with the new Novus Innovation Corridor on the north side.

The project has been long in the talking stage and a primary concern to school officials worried about the thousands of students who cross E. University Drive by foot every day.

An earlier similar structure, called the Palm Walk Overpass linked to the school’s historic Palm Walk Pedestrian Mall, was built several years ago and also bridges E. University, connecting the north side of the campus to the central campus.

Funding for the new bridge project has now been approved by the Arizona Board of Regents, with construction expected to begin sometime next year.
The bridge is expected to be completed by early 2022.

By Garry Boulard

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