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]
On May 15, 2002, the United States Department of Transportation approved a plan for the Oklahoma City Crosstown realignment. Included in the plan was the requirement 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] Architects Hans and Torrey Butzer conceived of the bridge as being inspired by the mating dance of the scissor-tailed flycatcher, Oklahoma's state bird.[5][6][7] The double-winged structure would be a sculptural landmark and provide support to a pedestrian deck that connects two portions of Oklahoma City's Scissortail Park. The concept was developed into the competition-winning design by Hans Butzer, Stan Carroll, Ken Fitzsimmons, Jeremy Gardner, Bret Johnston, Laurent Massenat, Chris Ramseyer, and David Wanzer in collaboration with MKEC Inc.[8]
The location of the bridge was chosen as part of the "Core to Shore" initiative, which was intended to connect the core of downtown Oklahoma City to the shore of the Oklahoma River. An urban park was in the early stages of planning in the same area as part of the MAPS 3 project; the bridge connects the park's upper and lower portions.[9]
The city allocated a budget of $6.8 million. The cost was originally estimated to be around $5.2 million, but unexpected problems pushed the estimate to $12.8 million.[10] To lower costs, part of the bridge was redesigned, including the elimination of large cables originally intended to stretch from the top of the bird design to the base of the bridge.[10] Construction was originally expected to run from March to November 2011, but due to the cost issues construction did not begin until August 2011. It was constructed at the same time as the new Interstate 40.[11][10]
The Manhattan Road & Bridge Company built the 380-feet long, 192-feet tall, 20-feet wide bridge.[12] The bird sculpture was completed in December 2011, and construction was finished in April 2012.[13] The bridge officially opened on April 23, 2012, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony which included appearances by design architects and public officials.[14] The design includes fully programmable energy efficient LED lights that illuminate the bridge from dusk to dawn.[13][15][16]
In June 2019, city leaders approved a $840,000 repair project on the bridge to replace the wood deck, which had reached its lifespan. It was replaced with a composite fiberglass deck and underwent construction from summer 2019 through summer 2020.[17][18]
Receptionedit
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".[19]
^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.
^"Skydance bridge opens to pedestrians, lights up night". The Oklahoman. April 24, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
^"SkyDance Bridge Officially Unveiled In Oklahoma City". KWTV. April 23, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
^Querry, K. (June 19, 2019). "City leaders approve plan to repair Skydance Bridge". KFOR-TV. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
^Torp, Kari (February 6, 2020). "Skydance Bridge Repairs Could Last Until Summer". KWTV-DT. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
^"SkyDance Bridge In OKC One Of Nation's Top 50 Public Art Projects". KWTV. June 18, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to SkyDance Bridge.
skydance, bridge, oftentimes, called, skydance, pedestrian, bridge, scissortail, bridge, pedestrian, bridge, public, artwork, oklahoma, city, oklahoma, united, states, bridge, 2019coordinates35, 45650, 51742, 45650, 51742carriespedestrians, bicyclistscrossesin. 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 BridgeThe bridge in 2019Coordinates35 27 23 N 97 31 03 W 35 45650 N 97 51742 W 35 45650 97 51742CarriesPedestrians bicyclistsCrossesInterstate 40 in Oklahoma Union Pacific Railroad lineLocaleDowntown Oklahoma CityOther name s Skydance Pedestrian Bridge Scissortail BridgeNamed forScissor tailed flycatcherOwnerCity of Oklahoma CityMaintained byOklahoma Department of TransportationWebsitewww wbr okc wbr gov wbr departments wbr public works wbr resident community resources wbr skydance bridgeCharacteristicsDesignTruss bridgeMaterialStainless Steel Wood 2012 2019 Fiberglass 2019 present Total length380 feetWidth20 feetHeight192 feetHistoryArchitectMKEC Engineering Consultants Inc DesignerS X LSuccessful competition designButzer DesignConstructed byManhattan Road amp Bridge Co Construction startAugust 2011Construction endApril 2012Construction cost 6 8 millionOpenedApril 23 2012InauguratedApril 23 2012Location Contents 1 History and design 2 Reception 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory and design edit nbsp The bridge at night 2014 On May 15 2002 the United States Department of Transportation approved a plan for the Oklahoma City Crosstown realignment Included in the plan was the requirement 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 Architects Hans and Torrey Butzer conceived of the bridge as being inspired by the mating dance of the scissor tailed flycatcher Oklahoma s state bird 5 6 7 The double winged structure would be a sculptural landmark and provide support to a pedestrian deck that connects two portions of Oklahoma City s Scissortail Park The concept was developed into the competition winning design by Hans Butzer Stan Carroll Ken Fitzsimmons Jeremy Gardner Bret Johnston Laurent Massenat Chris Ramseyer and David Wanzer in collaboration with MKEC Inc 8 The location of the bridge was chosen as part of the Core to Shore initiative which was intended to connect the core of downtown Oklahoma City to the shore of the Oklahoma River An urban park was in the early stages of planning in the same area as part of the MAPS 3 project the bridge connects the park s upper and lower portions 9 The city allocated a budget of 6 8 million The cost was originally estimated to be around 5 2 million but unexpected problems pushed the estimate to 12 8 million 10 To lower costs part of the bridge was redesigned including the elimination of large cables originally intended to stretch from the top of the bird design to the base of the bridge 10 Construction was originally expected to run from March to November 2011 but due to the cost issues construction did not begin until August 2011 It was constructed at the same time as the new Interstate 40 11 10 The Manhattan Road amp Bridge Company built the 380 feet long 192 feet tall 20 feet wide bridge 12 The bird sculpture was completed in December 2011 and construction was finished in April 2012 13 The bridge officially opened on April 23 2012 with a ribbon cutting ceremony which included appearances by design architects and public officials 14 The design includes fully programmable energy efficient LED lights that illuminate the bridge from dusk to dawn 13 15 16 In June 2019 city leaders approved a 840 000 repair project on the bridge to replace the wood deck which had reached its lifespan It was replaced with a composite fiberglass deck and underwent construction from summer 2019 through summer 2020 17 18 Reception editIn 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 19 See also edit2012 in artReferences edit Skydance Bridge City of OKC City of Oklahoma City Retrieved June 27 2019 Road to Tomorrow At Last I 40 Reroute Nears Start Date The Oklahoman May 15 2002 Retrieved December 15 2019 Kimball Michael November 23 2011 Skydance Bridge about to rise up in Oklahoma City The Oklahoman Retrieved December 25 2019 OKC FACTS amp HISTORY Visit OKC Retrieved December 25 2019 Skydance Bridge Pike Hannah February 25 2019 Award winning OU architecture dean balances teaching design OU Daily Manwarren Leigh SkyDance Bridge Design University of Oklahoma College of Engineering Retrieved December 25 2019 Ramseyer Chris Butzer Hans Reaching for the Sky PDF Structure Magazine Retrieved February 25 2021 Skydance Bridge Butzer Architects and Urbanism Retrieved December 25 2019 a b c Dean Bryan October 27 2010 Skydance Bridge to be redesigned The Oklahoman Retrieved December 25 2019 Skydance Bridge construction in OKC set for August start The Oklahoman June 22 2011 Retrieved December 25 2019 Award of Merit Transportation Oklahoma City Skydance Bridge Engineering News Record December 12 2012 Retrieved December 25 2019 a b SKYDANCE BRIDGE Americans for the Arts May 15 2019 Retrieved December 25 2019 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 Skydance bridge opens to pedestrians lights up night The Oklahoman April 24 2012 Retrieved December 25 2019 SkyDance Bridge Officially Unveiled In Oklahoma City KWTV April 23 2012 Retrieved December 25 2019 Querry K June 19 2019 City leaders approve plan to repair Skydance Bridge KFOR TV Retrieved December 25 2019 Torp Kari February 6 2020 Skydance Bridge Repairs Could Last Until Summer KWTV DT Retrieved December 17 2020 SkyDance Bridge In OKC One Of Nation s Top 50 Public Art Projects KWTV June 18 2012 Retrieved June 27 2019 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to SkyDance Bridge SkyDance Bridge at cultureNOW Portals nbsp Engineering nbsp Oklahoma nbsp Transport nbsp Visual arts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Skydance Bridge amp oldid 1177384891, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
