From the Nominator

The UVU Pedestrian Bridge is the culmination of a 27-year goal to connect Utah Valley University’s east and west campuses. A partnership between UVU, the Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Transit Authority, and Orem City facilitated creating the bridge, which spans the length of three football fields, and provides safe travel over railroad tracks, a city street, and the I-15 freeway. The ribbon-cutting event was held on Jan. 14, 2021. It brought stakeholders together in an unprecedented way. Due to pandemic restrictions, instead of one ribbon, 19 individual ribbon stations were created in the newly commissioned bridge, which allowed for participation while practicing safe social distancing. Guests joined in person and virtually as the celebration commenced. 

The 15-foot-wide bridge was built through relationships, and is another link in the creation of a sustainable, walkable community. It connects UTA FrontRunner’s intermodal hub with UVU. The $30.7 million project dramatically changes the safety of pedestrians and congestion on nearby streets. The program honored the partnerships with stakeholders, the engineering, design, and architecture of the bridge, as well as UVU students through a video production of the Great Race, which provided humorous emphasis on the benefits the new UVU Pedestrian Bridge provides to students, faculty, and staff.

From the Judges

This was a fantastic example of how to adapt an event to run safely during the pandemic. The organizers were very creative, and the end result was more engaging and exciting than a standard ribbon-cutting event. Great engagement with students and acknowledgement of all the community users involved and affected. Great public engagement here.