Mayor Phil Gordon along with U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor and Councilman Tom Simplot on Saturday officially opened the Isaac Pedestrian Bridge over McDowell Road east of 35^th Avenue.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 pedestrians will cross the bridge annually. The bridge now provides a safer connection for students and other pedestrians crossing McDowell Road at 35^th Avenue near Isaac Middle School.

This project, part of a comprehensive city effort to revitalize the Isaac Neighborhood, provided an opportunity to improve the safety and appearance of the McDowell Road streetscape.

“Not only are children and other pedestrians kept safer, but the fantastic design elements add to the revitalization of the area,” said Gordon. “The bridge truly benefits our community and we thank Congressman Pastor for the key role he played in making this happen for our community.”

“The Isaac Pedestrian Bridge provides a safer route for Isaac Middle School students and demonstrates what can be accomplished when government at all levels come together,” said Pastor.

In addition to the new pedestrian bridge at McDowell Road and 35^th Avenue, improvements also include an enhanced streetscape, a vehicular drop-off for Isaac Middle School students and new artist-designed bus shelters on each of the four corners at 35^th Avenue.

“This bridge is a perfect example of how our community came together to bring about a safer way for our children to get to school,” said Simplot. “I learned about the need for this bridge from community members within the first few days of serving on the council, and I am pleased to see it completed today and standing as a testament to what can happen when we truly work together. Congressman Pastor played a pivotal role in making federal funds available to supplement our local funds and for that we are grateful. ”

The bridge, which spans 135 feet across McDowell Road, is inspired by geometric images of parrots painted on prehistoric Native American pottery.

The unique design of the Isaac Pedestrian Bridge was developed through collaboration between Jacobs Engineering and artist Rosemary Lonewolf. The artist drew her inspiration for the bridge's bird-like form from geometric images of parrots painted on prehistoric Native American pottery.

The steel mesh cage and supports of the bridge form the head and wings of a Scarlet Macaw—a prized bird in ancient times—flying in opposite directions.

The brightly colored relief pictures on the bridge columns tell the story of ancient traders toting corn and other goods from one culture to another. In addition to the relief images on the columns, the bridge features feather designs for railings and smaller support piers, an abstracted pattern of birds sandblasted into the walkway, and red lighting accenting the bridge at night.

Lonewolf sees the bridge as both a physical crossing and a symbolic span linking the shared history of different cultures. Lonewolf is a fourth generation potter from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. This is her first major commission with the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture Public Art Program.

Both artists were commissioned through a competitive nationwide selection process and have worked with residents and the city of Phoenix to develop their designs.

The inclusion of public art in the Isaac Pedestrian Bridge and Isaac Neighborhood Streetscape projects is funded through the city’s public art ordinance, which allocates up to one percent of the Capital Improvement Project budget for public art in capital projects.

For more information about Phoenix’s Public Art Program, visit phoenix.gov/arts, or call 602-262-4637 or TTY 602-534-5500. For information about the bridge project, contact the city's Street Transportation Department at 602-262-6284.