Skydance Bridge

The Skydance Bridge (oftentimes called the Skydance Pedestrian Bridge or Scissortail Bridge) is a pedestrian bridge and public artwork in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States.[1]

Skydance Bridge
The bridge in 2019
Location in Oklahoma
Coordinates35°27′23″N 97°31′03″W
Carries
Crosses
LocaleDowntown Oklahoma City
Other name(s)
  • Skydance Pedestrian Bridge
  • Scissortail Bridge
Named forScissor-tailed flycatcher
OwnerCity of Oklahoma City
Maintained byOklahoma Department of Transportation
WebsiteOfficial website
Characteristics
DesignTruss bridge
Material
Total length380 feet
Width20 feet
Height192 feet
History
ArchitectMKEC Engineering Consultants Inc.
DesignerS-X-L
Successful competition designButzer Design
Constructed byManhattan Road & Bridge Co.
Construction startAugust 2011
Construction endApril 2012
Construction cost$6.8 million
OpenedApril 23, 2012
InauguratedApril 23, 2012

History and design
The bridge at night, 2014

On May 15, 2002, when the United States Department of Transportation approved a plan for the Oklahoma City Crosstown realignment it required that the city build a pedestrian bridge to cross Interstate 40.[2][3] In 2008, Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett announced a design competition for the bridge.[4] Hans Butzer, who also co-designed the Oklahoma City National Memorial, won the design challenge with a design inspired by the skydance of the Scissor-tailed flycatcher, the Oklahoma state bird.[5] The location of the bridge was chosen because of the "Core to shore" initiative, intending to connect the core of Downtown Oklahoma City to the shore of the Oklahoma River and as part of the MAPS 3 project an urban park was in the early stages of planning in the same area; the bridge connects the upper portion of the park to the lower portion of the park.[6]

The city allocated a budget of $6.8 million and was originally estimated to be around $5.2 million, unexpected problems pushed the estimated cost to $12.8 million.[7] Part of the bridge was redesigned to lower costs, including the removal large cables originally intended to stretch from the top of the bird design to the base of the bridge.[7] Construction was originally expected to run from March to November 2011, but due to the cost issues on the project construction did not begin until August 2011, it was constructed at the same time as construction of the new Interstate 40.[8][7]

The Manhattan Road & Bridge Company built the 380-feet long, 192-feet tall, 20-feet wide, bridge.[9] The bird sculpture was completed in December 2011, and construction was finished in April 2012.[10] The bridge officially opened on April 23, 2012 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with appearances by design architects and public officials.[11] The design includes fully programmable energy efficient LED lights that illuminate the bridge from dusk to dawn.[10][12][13]

In June 2019, city leaders approved a $840,000 repair project on the bridge to replace the wood deck which had reached its lifespan, the wood deck was replaced with a fiberglass deck with construction that took place in the summer and fall of 2019.[14]

Reception

In 2012, the structure was named one of the 50 best public art projects in the United States by the Americans for the Arts' "Public Art Network Year in Review".[15]

See also

References
  1. "Skydance Bridge | City of OKC". City of Oklahoma City. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  2. "Road to Tomorrow At Last, I-40 Reroute Nears Start Date". The Oklahoman. May 15, 2002. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  3. Kimball, Michael (November 23, 2011). "Skydance Bridge about to rise up in Oklahoma City". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  4. "OKC FACTS & HISTORY". Visit OKC. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  5. Manwarren, Leigh. "SkyDance Bridge Design". University of Oklahoma College of Engineering. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  6. "Skydance Bridge". Butzer Architects and Urbanism. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  7. Dean, Bryan (October 27, 2010). "Skydance Bridge to be redesigned". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  8. "Skydance Bridge construction in OKC set for August start". The Oklahoman. June 22, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  9. "Award of Merit, Transportation: Oklahoma City Skydance Bridge". Engineering News-Record. December 12, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  10. "SKYDANCE BRIDGE". Americans for the Arts. May 15, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  11. Ingle Oingle, Olivia (June 19, 2012). "Oklahoma City SkyDance Bridge is one of nation's top 50 public arts projects". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  12. "Skydance bridge opens to pedestrians, lights up night". The Oklahoman. April 24, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  13. "SkyDance Bridge Officially Unveiled In Oklahoma City". KWTV. April 23, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  14. Querry, K. (June 19, 2019). "City leaders approve plan to repair Skydance Bridge". KFOR-TV. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  15. "SkyDance Bridge In OKC One Of Nation's Top 50 Public Art Projects". KWTV. June 18, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
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