Redbud Trail pedestrian bridge over Rock Road

In May of 2024, Ed Carpenter was selected by a Wichita, Kansas art and infrastructure jury to design the first of four pedestrian bridges on the Redbud Trail, a popular rails-to-trails pathway spanning two counties along more than 15 miles repurposed for pedestrian and bicycle use.  Carpenter’s previous bridge designs and large-scale public sculptures figured into his selection.  Following a site visit, orientation, and charette, Carpenter collaborated with KPFF Consulting Engineers from Portland, and Benesch Engineers from Wichita, on the design illustrated here.  It will span 110’ over four lanes of Rock Road, one of Wichita’s most prominent north-south boulevards.  The expansive bridge members will be rendered in a mixture of weathering, stainless, and galvanized steel, creating imagery referring abstractly to native prairie grasses.  The splayed-arch structural concept gives an open feel within the bridge, and addresses the need to carry loads from above rather than below.  Because traffic clearance is critical to such a structure, the approach ramps would be unreasonably long and expensive for a deep deck design.  Construction and completion are scheduled for 2026.