Temporary bridge near Lithia Park swim reservoir at southern tip of the park brings early end to projected six-month closure of Wonder, Wasabi trails

By Sydney Seymour, Ashland.news

Loss of access to a pair of popular Ashland watershed trails for a half-year ended up lasting less than three weeks after public outcry and the realization a temporary pedestrian bridge could be installed in a former creek-crossing site without undergoing a time-consuming permitting process resulted in opening of a temporary bridge on Aug. 8, just 19 days after the July 21 trail closure.

The closure was prompted by the need to replace an aging culvert passing under the west side of Ashland Loop Road and Horn Creek Road, part of the first phase of work on water pipeline work related to construction of Ashland’s new water treatment plant. The plant, under development since 2012, will replace the current 76-year-old treatment plant located in a flood- and fire-prone canyon to ensure a reliable water supply, according to the city website.

Work on the culvert under Horn Creek Road/U.S. Forest Service 2060 includes upgrading the culvert to handle future storms, install electrical and fiber optic cables and various water system pipes that will be needed for the new water treatment plant. 

The temporary bridge across Ashland Creek restored trail access from Granite Street to the Wasabi and Wonder trails and the lower west-side U.S. Forest Service 2060 road. Trail users relied on Hitt Road for alternative access until the bridge was installed. 

The bridge, costing the city water fund $25,000, will be up for the duration of phase one, estimated for completion on Dec. 31, 2025. It is a mixed-use crossing over Ashland Creek for pedestrians and cyclists, who are asked to walk their bikes. 

Ashland Woodland & Trails Association President Torsten Heycke said the bridge opened up even more trails than those mentioned in the city’s announcement. 

“The bridge really opens up a third of our trails on the west side, and all the trails way back in our watershed,” he said in a phone interview. “It opens up the trail system, allows loops and prevents congestion and conflict by having users dispersed.” 

While the city said in a May 30 press release they would work to maintain trail access during the six month period, the temporary bridge couldn’t be installed before July 21 due to “logistical and timing constraints,” according to the city.

The city believed the permit process for a bridge would take too long, Ashland Communications Officer Dorinda Cottle wrote in an email. City staff were able to come up with a “workaround” to bypass the permit process by placing the crossing in a location that previously had a historic crossing washed out due to flooding, Cottle wrote. 

The city announced trail closure for the rest of the year, but public feedback “further supported the effort to implement the temporary bridge,” Cottle said. 

“Once fencing went up near the reservoir at the top of Lithia Park, we sprung into action,” Ryan Hawk, president of Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association said in a phone call. “To shut down almost half the trails and all the west side trail access for six months seemed very unreasonable, so we encouraged people to call or write to the city. I think that helped find a solution and get that into place.” 

The city intended to combine onsite and offsite facilities of the treatment plant under one contract, Cottle explained, which may have enabled continuous access to trails. But the contract was split into phases to secure grant funding. Rather than prioritizing trail access, the city focused on not losing another construction season and facing higher costs next year, Cottle wrote. 

The city of Ashland obtained a $73 million long-term loan to fully fund the treatment plant but says it continues to pursue grant funds to help offset the cost and reduce the financial burden on local ratepayers.

Email Ashland.news Snowden intern Sydney Seymour at [email protected].

Aug. 28: Removed the Fairy Ponds from list of areas accessible due to installation of the temporary bridge.

Related stories: 

City Corner: Ashland moves forward with water treatment plant funding despite grant program changes (June 2, 2025)

Ashland seeking new water treatment plant funding options after Trump administration cuts FEMA grant program (April 15, 2025)

Uphill battle: Financing for plan to relocate water treatment plant faces ballot test (October 28, 2024)