(December 9, 2011) Construction on Oklahoma City’s iconic new pedestrian bridge, Oklahoma City SkyDance Bridge, inspired by the scissor-tailed flycatcher took shape today as a massive steel “wing,” was carefully lifted by a crane and pinned to the base structure.
Construction on the 380-foot long bridge will continue through the spring as crews finish the bridge decking, install landscaping and build sidewalks leading to the bridge. The bridge is expected to open in late spring 2012.
The bridge spans the new Interstate 40 near Robinson Avenue, connecting pedestrians to the Oklahoma River. The bridge is at the heart of the MAPS 3 downtown park, which is expected to begin construction in 2013.
“This soaring monument will welcome visitors and become an impressive landmark for our City,” Mayor Cornett said. “It will evoke a sense of pride for Oklahomans traveling Interstate 40 and leave a lasting, positive impression on visitors who travel through Oklahoma City.”
The bridge design and structural engineering was performed locally by S-X-L. Civil engineering was performed by MKEC engineering. SXL and MKEC engineering won a national competition for the project in 2008. SXL is a collaboration of architects, engineers, university professors and designers that include Laurent Massenat, Professor Hans Butzer, Stan Carroll, Ken Fitzsimmons, Professor Chris Ramseyer, David Wanzer, Jeremy Gardner, Nick Safley, Adam Baldwin, Torrey Butzer and Brett Johnson.
Manhattan Road and Bridge was the general contractor. W&W Steel and Swanda Brothers fabricated the feathers.
"The SkyDance Bridge has been built from the selfless collaboration of the Architects, Engineers, Builders, and City Leaders whose unified focus was the creation of an iconic image for this great place," architect and co-designer Stan Carroll said.
Oklahoma City SkyDance Bridge was built prior to development of the MAPS 3 downtown park to avoid disrupting traffic once the new Interstate 40 opens.
“The Oklahoma City SkyDance Bridge celebrates not only the history of Oklahoma's landscape and people, but proves the brilliance and promise of who are becoming as a city and community,” project architect Professor Hans Butzer said.
Total cost for the pedestrian bridge is $5.8 million; $3.5 million is from ODOT federal funds and $2.3 million came from the 2000 and 2007 General Obligation Bond Authorizations.
Oklahoma City SkyDance Bridge Stats: Pedestrian walkway: 20-feet wide; bridge span: 380-feet long; sculpture height: 192-feet above I-40; sculpture weight: 105 tons.