The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), in collaboration with the City of Reno, will kick off a significant construction project on May 5 to replace the aging Arlington Avenue Bridges over the Truckee River at Wingfield Park.
Built nearly 100 years ago, the current structures will be rebuilt into safer, more modern bridges that maintain the aesthetic character of Downtown Reno, according to the RTC.
"We are going to be shutting down the bridge access and Wingfield Park access and that's to replace, basically, what are structurally deficient bridges," said Josh MacEachern, Public Information Officer, RTC. "They are about 94 to 98 years old and it's time for us to make them new."
The project is scheduled for completion in summer 2026.
Starting May 5, Arlington Avenue will be closed between West 1st Street and Island Avenue.
Northbound traffic will be rerouted to the Virginia Street bridge, while southbound cars and pedestrians will need to use the Sierra Street bridge.
From May 5–11, the intersection at West 1st Street and Arlington Avenue will be fully closed.
Beginning May 12, West 1st Street will reopen for westbound traffic only, between West Street and Stevenson Street.
Wingfield Park will remain closed throughout the duration of the project, and river recreation detours will be in place.
The bridge replacement includes major safety upgrades for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and transit users, alongside improved roadways and utilities.
The RTC says the new bridges will also incorporate aesthetic improvements inspired by community feedback.
"The community was actually able to provide input on the style of the new bridges during the initial stages," MacEachern said. "So, this project is very much representative of the community's wants and needs."
The north bridge will feature one support pier to enhance river flow, while the south bridge will have a pier-free, clear-span design.
Additionally, 32 trees and nearly 300 new plants will be added to the area, although around 15 trees will need to be removed during construction.
The community-selected Art Deco design will showcase decorative metal railings, custom lighting, and signature architectural pylons.
This project will impact some big events.
The Bass Camp Festival this summer will be canceled, and the Reno River Festival will be moved to Idlewild Park.
"Yeah, the events that have had to be moved, we've known for a long time, they've known for a long time," MacEachern said. "So, we were able to work with them and come up with a good solution and we're excited to basically replace those bridges and have everyone back to where they're used to being very quickly."
Renderings of the project are available on the project’s website.
Residents are encouraged to stay updated and contact the project team with any questions via the project website.
