Frederick Gottemoeller - Bridgescape LLC

The building of the first bridge across the Truckee River established the location of Reno. The road across the bridge became Virginia Street, Reno's primary north south street. Over the years development has encroached on the Truckee, increasing flows from the seasonal snow melt in the Sierra Nevada. The existing two-span arch bridge can no longer handle the peaks, and downtown Reno floods. Solving this problem requires a new bridge at a higher elevation, potentially impacting nearby historic buildings.

The new bridge will cross the river with a single span. The full channel width will be available to accommodate the seasonal floods. A pair of through arches will carry a thin floor system that minimizes the change in elevation. The arches themselves are kept low so that they do not interfere with views to the historic buildings. Aesthetic lighting of the bridge will provide a dignified feel at night that contrasts with the glitz of Reno's casino district.

The design shows that even a modestly-sized bridge can become the centerpiece of an important urban space.