Colorado Bridge Over the Deschutes River is in Line for an Upgrade

After the Deschutes River stretch through the town of Bend, Oregon  was opened to swimmers a few years ago, the culture of the town took a turn towards the river. A vibrant culture of water lovers float the section of river from the Healy Bridge to the Colorado Spillway Bridge most every summer day, sometimes hundreds a day when the weather is warm.

Floaters will get out at one of the casual beaches before the Colorado Bridge, but sometimes, they don't. Though some people make it if they get pulled over the spillway under the bridge, two people died over the past couple of years and there have been quite a few near misses. Gather a group of regular river paddlers and someone will have a story about saving a floater from going over.

Well now, there is some good news -- for both the floaters and the paddlers.

The Colorado Bridge on Colorado Avenue in Bend, Oregon is being considered for a $1.7 Million dollar upgrade. The Bend Park & Recreation District board is considering replacing the Colorado spillway bridge and creating a channel for boaters, a whitewater channel and some wildlife habitat area. You can read more about the proposed project at the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation site.

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