over/under

under the steel bridge - cia

spanning rivers and overflying neighborhoods, we are accustomed to the elevated roadway. engineered in ribbons of steel and concrete, we marvel at the massive structures from below.

under interstate 5 - cia

now, as we reconsider our relationship with nature, land bridges are being constructed to aid wildlife’s ability to safely cross busy highways. in urban areas where the highway took over riverfronts, urban planners are boring tunnels below cities to sequester traffic underground and return the land to people and parks.

interstate buttress - cia

there’s a difference between the essence of a bridge versus an overpass. one carries a poetic narrative, promise, and purpose like crossing a river; the other is about highway efficiency for the car.

for future cities, the planning is clear. the fifteen-minute city is walkable, nature-forward, and respectful of the community it supports. bridges can connect us, but more often than not, highways divide our urban corridors and unfairly segment populations.

portland 15-minute radius - cia