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City, engineers brief Landmarks Commission on Franklin Avenue undercrossing; SHPO concurs that structure is eligible
Summary
Design engineers and city staff updated the Bend Landmarks Commission on the Franklin Avenue undercrossing project, reporting concurrence from the State Historic Preservation Office that the undercrossing is historically eligible and outlining proposed roadway, sidewalk and retaining-wall work tied to Midtown Crossing improvements.
City staff and project engineers briefed the Bend Landmarks Commission on June 17 about the Franklin Avenue undercrossing design for the Midtown Crossing project and reported that the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has concurred with the consultant’s assessment that the undercrossing is historically eligible.
Todd Johnson, senior engineer for the City of Bend’s Midtown projects, and Justin Mason of engineering firm Dowell told the commission the design team submitted an eligibility assessment and received SHPO concurrence that the undercrossing is eligible under historic criteria cited in the SHPO letter. Mason described the undercrossing as a Works Progress Administration-era feature with character-defining elements that include the concrete railings, light standards and stone-faced retaining walls.
Why it matters: Franklin Avenue is part of the city’s Midtown Crossing improvements. The undercrossing crosses ODOT/BNSF right-of-way. SHPO concurrence means proposed work must consider historic integrity and will require coordination on design approaches that preserve or appropriately replicate character-defining materials where feasible.
Project scope and constraints: Engineers said the design will not fully rebuild tunnel interiors (cost and constructability were cited), but will widen sidewalks, provide climbing bike lanes (a raised bicycle lane to separate uphill bicycles from general traffic), address localized flooding by relocating a waterline into the roadway, and regrade approaches to improve sight lines into the undercrossing. Because the proposed roadway profile and climbing-lane footprint require additional space, the team expects to modify or rebuild retaining walls on three of the four quadrants around the undercrossing.
Engineers described an aesthetic approach to the retaining walls and railings: where existing stone-faced retaining walls must be rebuilt to meet current standards, the team proposes concrete structural walls with a stone facade designed to match the remaining quadrant. For precast or cast elements of the railing, the team said they would match proportions and details where possible but acknowledged modern code can require slightly higher curb or base heights to meet fall-protection standards.
Commissioners raised visibility and preservation concerns and asked for detailed drawings to show which historic elements will be preserved in place, which will be salvaged and which must be replaced. Rod Hunt, a nearby property owner, urged the commission to preserve the existing stone-faced walls and existing lamp standards, saying the wall and the lamps contribute to the approach into Old Town. Project staff said they will seek to salvage historic features where possible and will provide further detail to the commission and to SHPO as design advances.
Next steps: The design team said they will present additional documentation of what will be retained, replicated or replaced as the project’s design advances and as funding is confirmed. The city has a work session with the council the day after the commission briefing and is refining cost estimates and scope to address budget gaps. Staff said a letter of concurrence or design guidance from the Landmarks Commission would be useful to include in coordination with SHPO going forward.
