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 | |
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![]() The bridge in 2019 | |
Coordinates | 35°27′23″N 97°31′03″W |
Carries | |
Crosses | |
Locale | Downtown Oklahoma City |
Other name(s) |
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Named for | Scissor-tailed flycatcher |
Owner | City of Oklahoma City |
Maintained by | Oklahoma Department of Transportation |
Website | www |
Characteristics | |
Design | Truss bridge |
Material |
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Total length | 380 feet |
Width | 20 feet |
Height | 192 feet |
History | |
Architect | MKEC Engineering Consultants Inc. |
Designer | S-X-L |
Successful competition design | Butzer Design |
Constructed by | Manhattan Road & Bridge Co. |
Construction start | August 2011 |
Construction end | April 2012 |
Construction cost | $6.8 million |
Opened | April 23, 2012 |
Inaugurated | April 23, 2012 |
Location | |
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History and design
![](../I/Skydance_Bridge_OKC.jpg.webp)
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] Hans Butzer, who also co-designed the Oklahoma City National Memorial, won the competition with a design inspired by the skydance of the Scissor-tailed flycatcher, the Oklahoma state bird.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] 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. [7] 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.[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 which included 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. It was replaced with a composite fiberglass deck and underwent construction from summer 2019 through summer 2020.[14][15]
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".[16]
See also
References
- "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 & HISTORY". Visit OKC. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- Manwarren, Leigh. "SkyDance Bridge Design". University of Oklahoma College of Engineering. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- "Skydance Bridge". Butzer Architects and Urbanism. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- 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.
- "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
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to SkyDance Bridge. |
- SkyDance Bridge at cultureNOW