Denver Millennium Bridge

The Denver Millennium Bridge is the world's first cable-stayed bridge using post-tensioned structural construction. Its 200-foot (61m) white tapered steel mast rises above Denver's northwestern skyline, connected to the bridge deck and foundation anchors by steel cables. This unique footbridge crosses railroad tracks and the regional light rail system, climbing no higher than 25 feet (8m) above street level, thereby minimizing the height pedestrians must climb. Located near LoDo (Denver's lower downtown),in Riverfront Park, the Millennium Bridge connects the popular 16th Street Mall with the Commons Park in the Central Platte Valley District of the Union Station neighborhood. The bridge is the first of three pedestrian bridges between Downtown Denver and the Highland neighborhood.

Denver Millennium Bridge
Mast of Denver's Millennium Bridge rises to 200 feet (61m), connecting to the footbridge's deck and foundation anchors with post-tensioned steel cables.
Coordinates39.7544°N 105.0041°W / 39.7544; -105.0041
CarriesPedestrians
CrossesRailroad, Light Rail system
LocaleDenver, Colorado, United States
Characteristics
DesignStructural steel, post-tensioned cable-stayed bridge
Total length130 feet (40m)
Width80 feet (24m)
Height25 feet (8m)
Clearance above200 feet (61m)
History
Construction cost$9 million
OpenedApril 22, 2002
For other structures of the same name see Millennium Bridge (disambiguation)

Design

The name, Denver Millennium Bridge, honors a milestone in time and in Denver's architectural development. To meet the structural challenge of spanning 130 feet (40m) without a steep increase in elevation, the deck's structure must be as thin as possible while remaining stable. This suspension bridge uses a steel frame that derives its stiffness from tension by using a single mast that is tilted toward one end of the bridge. Cables supporting the bridge deck are welded to both sides of the mast, but cable to foundation anchors attach to the mast only from the side of the bridge toward which the mast is tilted.[1]

Supportive tension is created by using the mast as a lever to pull the deck up into a shallow arc, keeping the opposite end of the bridge secured by two steel rods. With the mast raised, concrete was poured onto the metal deck frame, pushing the deck into place and applying tension to the cables. The post-tensioned structural construction allows for a substantially thinner 6-inch-thick reinforced concrete slab-on-metal deck. The deck structure is supported by secondary I-Beams, and has an average width of 80 feet (24m).

History

Preliminary work on the $9-million footbridge began in 1999. The structural and civil engineering firm Ove Arup & Partners, in conjunction with the architectural design company ArchitectureDenver, developed the design.

Contractor Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc. implemented the design, subcontracting Colorado Bridge and Iron to fabricate the steel components. The mast was constructed of cone-shaped steel plate sections welded together to form a 3-foot (1m) base, 7-foot (2m) midsection and 1.5-foot (.5m) tip diameter.

Glass-enclosed elevator towers on both ends of the footbridge accommodate pedestrians who have difficulty climbing the stairs leading up to either end of the bridge from street level. The Millennium Bridge was completed and officially opened by Denver Mayor Wellington Webb on April 22, 2002.

On April 24, 2014, a $1-million renovation began on the footbridge to increase pedestrian accessibility to the bridge, which allows for smoother access between downtown Denver and the Central Platte Valley and Lower Highlands neighborhoods. Part of this renovation includes modifications to the east staircase and an upgrade to LED lighting which will allow for the colors to be changed and increase energy efficiency by up to 80%.[2]

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See also

Awards
  • 2002 Urban Design Merit Award, Denver Chapter American Institute of Architects
  • Gold Award, New York Association of Consulting Engineers "Engineering Excellence Awards 2003"
Stairs and a glass elevator lead pedestrians to the landing of Denver's Millennium Bridge.
Denver's Millennium Bridge connects Riverfront Park in the Central Platte Valley neighborhood with downtown's 16th Street pedestrian mall.
Dusk falls on the west end of Denver's Millennium Bridge.

References
  1. "Denver Millennium Footbridge". ARUP. Archived from the original on 2007-02-16.
  2. http://www.confluence-denver.com/devnews/millennium_042214.aspx
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