A new footbridge that better connects The University of Toledo’s engineering complex to the heart of Main Campus across Douglas Road is set to open next week.
UToledo will celebrate the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, outside Savage Arena near the bridge’s western anchor.
A 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 8, will officially open the University’s new pedestrian bridge over Douglas Road.
“We are excited to officially open the new pedestrian bridge to better connect the core of Main Campus to our recently updated engineering complex,” Interim President Matt Schroeder said. “As we continue to make UToledo a destination in our community, this was an important investment in our campus to provide students and visitors a safer way of getting across Douglas.”
The steel bridge stretches 78 feet across Douglas Road, with both stair and ramp access on the western side near Savage Arena and on the eastern side near the intersection of Marwood Avenue and North Westwood Avenue.
A multi-use path on the eastern side Douglas will link the new bridge to parking Area 19, the engineering complex, the Chessie Circle Trail and the University/Parks Trail that begins on campus and runs northwest to Sylvania Township.
Parking Area 19, which was used as a construction staging area, will be resurfaced and is planned to reopen before the start of fall semester on Thursday, Aug. 25.
Prior to this pedestrian bridge, the only designated crossing for Douglas Road between University Hills Boulevard and Dorr Street was the crosswalk at Oakwood Avenue and East Rocket Drive, about a quarter mile south of the bridge. However, students regularly crossed Douglas outside the crosswalk, particularly near where the new bridge was installed.
“The location worked out really well. As we looked at the best spot to place the bridge, it was in close proximity to the natural path students were already taking to cross the road,” said Jason Toth, senior associate vice president for administration. “This is going to have a big impact for engineering students, students who live in the apartments and neighborhood on the east side of Douglas and visitors coming to games and other events at Savage Arena.”
Work on the $3.4 million project began in July 2024, with the bridge span being set into place over Douglas Road in mid-May.
