TRAVERSE

PROGRAM

OVERVIEW LIBERTY PARK BRIDGE G.A.F. SITE BRIDGE STATE STREET

An interconnected, walkable

landscape linking downtown

Erie and it’s historic Bayfornt

LArch 496

Michael Humes

Chris Maurer

Erie Pennsylvania has long been separated from the bayfront that once brought it economic prosperity. Over the past decade Erie has been working to reinvigorate its downtown area and n doing so the bayfront has become the incubator to jumpstart Erie’s economy again. The bayfront was once viewed as a dirty industrial zone; however, it is now seen as an amenity that everyone should be able to enjoy.

Unfortunately, the Bayfront Parkway is standing in the way of reconnecting the downtown with the bayfront. This project aims at overcoming this obstacle through a series of pedestrian connections along the bayfront bluff that help traverse the bluff and the parkway while still maintain the atmosphere and views along the bluff.

This new parkway system keeps people up along the ridge of the bluff so that they can take in the spectacular views of the bay. There are three main pedestrian bridges that allow for easy access to the bayfront. These pedestrian bridges are located at three distinct areas where the majority of activity along the bayfront takes place helping to promote movement between downtown and the bayfront.

There is currently a weak connection between downtown Erie and its landmark Bicentennial Tower. The addition of this bridge helps to reestablish a connection to the pier that the bicentennial tower resides on as well as establish better pedestrian circulation between downtown and the bayfront.

GAF Bridge links the fringe of downtown and its adjacent neighborhood to the former GAF site and more importantly creates a connection to the Bayfront Convention Center which has become a focal point of Erie’s Bayfront.

Liberty Park Bridge is located off of a large Westside neighborhood and connects directly into Liberty Park, which houses Erie’s Amphitheater. This is a popular location for everyone in Erie during the summer time especially Eight Great Tuesdays—Erie’s annual concert series.

The area along the bluff that separates the bayfront from Erie Pennsylvania consists of a good mix of uses. Residential housing is very prominent along the bluff with hospitals following closely behind. The bayfront has been transformed from an industrial zone into a recreational zone. There are now convention centers, hotels, restaurants, landmarks, and lookout towers.

1. Liberty Park

2. Underground Parking Garage #1

3. Liberty Park Bridge

4. Bay Harbor Marina

5. Walkable Bluff Landscape

6. Bayview Park

7. Restored Forest

8. Lookout

Pedestrian Bridge that doesn’t restrict vehicular

traffic along the Bayfront Parkway.

Pedsestrian Bridge

Bridge Shape and Pathways driven by the lines

of force.

Lines of Force.

Current linear pedestrian movement restricting

access to the bayfront.

Bayfront Parkway dividing Downtown Erie from

the bayfront.

Pedestrian Bridge travsing the Bayfront

Parkway.

Pedestrian Bridge

Lines of force used to develope the shape of

the bridge.

Current pedestrian movement that restricts

access to the bayfront.

Bayfront Parkway dividing downtown from the

bayfront.

Circular pedestrian bridge that allows for ease

of access and proper circulation .

Pedestrian Bridge

At grade crossing area that allows for

interaction between downtown and the bayfront.

Current pedestrian movement is linear along

State Street.

Bayfront Parkway intersecting State Street

creates seperation between downtown and the

bayfront.

9. Historic Erie Waterworks

10. Waterworks Viewpoint

11. G.A.F. Park

12. G.A.F. Site Bridge

13. Bayfrotn Convention Center

14. Underground Parking Garage #2

15. Bicentennial Tower

16. State Street Intersection

1

2

3A

A

B

B

C

C

5

4

6

7

8

910

12

11

14

16

13

15