52nd Street Bridge Frequently Asked Questions

A new pedestrian bridge spanning the Boise River will connect the Greenbelt at 52nd Street, eliminating a dangerous detour and creating a safer, continuous pathway for the community.

Why do you need a bridge to Plantation Island at 52nd Street in Garden City?
For over 20 years, there has been a ½ mile detour on surface streets between Remington and 52nd Streets in Garden City. Pathway advocates have explored solutions to the detour for over 20 years. The nearby Park at Expo and AC Boise soccer stadium will only exacerbate the problem by drawing an additional one million visitors to the area each year. The new amenities will also drive growth, creating more traffic and Greenbelt users. It was time to bridge the gap and create a seamless Greenbelt experience at 52nd Street.
That area isn’t very busy. Why not just ride on the street or add a bike lane to the street?
Traditionally, the area around 52nd Street has not been very busy. That said, there is a mix of housing developments and industrial businesses that present dangers, including traffic, driveways, and intersections. All of the new attractions in the area will certainly bring additional growth, traffic, and Greenbelt users.
How did FACTS decide on the bridge solution?
FACTS, like many other organizations, explored all potential solutions, including purchasing property, acquiring easements, and installing bike lanes. Every potential solution comes with its own challenges. The bridge to Plantation Island turned out to be the best long-term solution and mirrors what Boise did with their bridge to Plantation Island on the north side of the river.
Why not create a corridor through where the homes are blocking the pathway?
The local homeowners have lived happily in that area for many years and are not interested in selling. Eminent domain is not an option in Idaho.
Why not create a route through one of the empty lots on 52nd Street?
Any empty lots on 52nd Street or Remington will not remain empty. Those lots are quite valuable now that they will be within walking distance of the Greenbelt, the new Park at Expo and AC Boise Soccer stadium. Some lots are already in development and more will follow. Also, creating a pathway to the Greenbelt through the empty lots would require multiple easements from different developers who are not thrilled about adding significant pedestrian and bike traffic and potential liability to their developments.
Why is the bridge project so expensive and time-consuming? It seems like the National Guard or a Boy Scout troop could build a bridge across that span of the river in a day.
Building anything in the Boise River floodway is complicated and expensive due to flood control and environmental considerations. Engineers explore and solve a host of flood control and environmental issues when designing bridges and connecting pathways in the flood zone. Studying and solving these issues drives up costs and timelines.
How much of my donation will go to the Bridge Project?
FACTS is an all-volunteer organization with NO paid employees. 100% of each donation, less credit card fees, will support the bridge project.
What does FACTS get out of this project?
Projects like this are our passion. FACTS members are cut from the same cloth as those who envisioned the original Boise River Greenbelt many years ago. Our vision is to continue improving the existing Greenbelt and to push it west until we complete a 62-mile pathway between Lucky Peak and the Boise River’s confluence with the Snake River.
How long will it take to design and construct the new bridge?
Ada County plans to begin designing the bridge in 2026. This will be followed by in-depth planning and contracting in 2027 and construction by 2028.

THE PROJECT

Foundation for Ada/Canyon Trail Systems (FACTS), in partnership with Garden City and Ada County, has secured $2.18 million in federal funding to construct a new pedestrian bridge linking 52nd Street to Plantation Island.

This long-planned connection will:

Remove a half-mile on-street detour
Improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists
Expand access across the Treasure Valley Greenbelt system

HELP CLOSE THE FUNDING GAP

To move forward, FACTS is raising

$130,000

in local matching funds.

Featured Links

Link to the FACTS Donation Page.

Link to the FACTS 52nd Street Bridge Donation Flyer.

Learn More About the 52nd Street Bridge Project.

View the KTVB story about the 52nd Street Bridge Project.

Read the BoiseDev Story About the 52nd Street Bridge.

Read the 2022 JUB Study of Route Alternatives at 52nd Street.