Firerock Footbridge & Staircase Removal Project

The bridge, built in the 1970s, has been closed to the public since 2015 due to concerns with its structural integrity and remains closed due to public safety risks.

The Firerock Bridge Project will:

• Remove the wooden pedestrian bridge over the Deschutes River downstream of the Archie Briggs Road bridge.
• Remove the abandoned waterline starting from the bluff on the east side, underneath the bridge over river, and to the valve vault on the west side.
• Remove and rebuild the staircase on the east side of the Deschutes River.
• Restore the work area on the east and west riverbanks with native seeding and plantings.

 Overall schedule:

• 2025: Permitting process
• Spring 2026: Hiring contractor
  • In April, 2026 the City received bids for construction services for the scope of work and selected a contractor. Specific bridge project construction details and timelines are being formulated and will be shared once defined.
• Summer/Fall 2026: Bridge and staircase removal
• Summer/Fall 2026: Staircase reconstruction

Bridge History:

• The bridge is believed to have been built in the mid-1970s by a developer to support a waterline that supplied potable water across the Deschutes River to the Rimrock West neighborhood.
• The waterline has not been used to convey water for many years and the City has built new waterlines within the Rimrock West neighborhood, allowing the City to abandon the original obsolete pipeline.
• The footbridge has been closed to the public since 2015 due to concerns regarding the structural integrity of the bridge.
• In 2021, the City of Bend performed a condition assessment on the Firerock Bridge to characterize the bridge’s condition. The assessment highlighted the deficiencies and public safety risks.

Project History:

• In 2024, the City planned to remove the waterline, bridge, and associated stairs on the east side of the Deschutes River. To address divergent opinions about whether to rebuild the eastside staircase, the project paused and timelines were adjusted to allow for engagement with neighbors and sufficient time for permitting processes.
• In December of 2024, the City Manager’s Office, Communications staff, and the City Attorney met with neighbors to discuss their questions and concerns. Discussions highlighted:
  • Transferring public land to a private entity and the public process that would involve.
  • The land on the east side of the bridge is public. The land on the west side of the bridge is private.
  • Rebuilding eastside stairs.
  • Other concerns such as camping along the river, litter, parking, trespassing.
• In February 2025, at another meeting with neighbors, the City reiterated that it needed to remove the bridge and would rebuild the eastside stairs to continue to provide access to the public park land near the river on the east side.
• In August 2025, the Planning Commission heard, discussed and approved the City’s proposal to work in the Waterway OverLay Zone as the project is currently identified. See Planning Commission Meeting Minutes here.

• Bridge and Staircase Assessment Memo

Complete the form below to receive project updates and share comments or questions with the project team.