If you drive over the new Walker bridge you can look off to the EAST and see the first section of the new bridge is already erected over the new I40....looks pretty good so far!!

Pic from SSEiYah from the I-40 thread
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d85/hansnet/I40%20Crosstown%20OKC%20%20112011/i4013.jpg[/QUOTE]

there will be an update on the skydance bridge at tomorrow city council meeting ...

from the memo

"Per the City's agreement with ODOT, the bridge and sculpture construction over the new Interstate 40 must be completed by December 20, 2011. The completion date for the entire project is April 20, 2012."

Heard a rumor that construction crews are WAY ahead of schedule, and I-40 may even be done VERY soon..

Heard a rumor that construction crews are WAY ahead of schedule, and I-40 may even be done VERY soon..

they are going to move traffic to the new I40 very very soon .. (DEC) but the entire thing won't be done unitl april

Heard a rumor that construction crews are WAY ahead of schedule, and I-40 may even be done VERY soon..

Way ahead of the most revised schedule, being years behind the original one.

Way ahead of the most revised schedule, being years behind the original one.

Yeah, that's the one...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Construction will soon begin on a unique phase of the new I-40 crosstown.
Credit: KFOR

The Skydance pedestrian bridge will span the new expressway near Harvey Ave. between Southwest 7th St. and Southwest 9th St. It doesn't look like much now, but it won't be long for the steel structure to be put together. The plan is for all the beams to be welded in place in just over two weeks. "We're convinced people won't expect to see something like this as they're driving the interstate," project architect Hans Butzers said.

Butzer said the Skydance's design, with beams rising 192 feet in the air, reflects the state bird, the Scissor Tail Flycatcher. "We're hoping people who see it will be just in awe of how beautiful it is," Butzer said.

The pedestrian bridge, spanning the new I-40, won't just be for looks. The true purpose is to unify the planned new central park. "The park has been divided by the new I-40. This will connect the northern and southern parts of that park," OKC public works director Eric Wenger said. Of course, before the downtown park opens, there won't be much to look at walking across the Skydance. However, construction on the crosstown dictated when the pedestrian bridge had to be built.

"Construction of the bridge was required to make sure there was no work over the new I-40 when traffic was opened up. It's very difficult to build bridges over traffic flow," Wenger said. The Skydance will officially be open to pedestrian traffic in April.

Here are pics of the Skydance bridge sections under construction,the poster was not wanting to post the pics in our forum so I am just going to post this whole page from SSC!http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=223555&page=29

He called us borderline insane... Pretty accurate. LOL

If the Sky Dance opens before the parks are built, it will be a "bridge to nowhere" "from nowhere".:ohno:

ugh. not looking forward to seeing that finished at all! But thanks for the link.

Final piece will be installed on Dec. 8th.

A couple screen grabs

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6229/6386314895_6c839bd8d9_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6386314849_93101fc407_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6386314785_294c361eb6_b.jpg

Final piece will be installed on Dec. 8th.

ugh. not looking forward to seeing that finished at all! But thanks for the link.

I feel opposite.

Work starts on Skydance Bridge over new I-40 Crosstown
By Brian Brus
Journal Record
Oklahoma City reporter - Contact: brian.brus@journalrecord.com / 405-278-2837 / https://twitter.com/JRBrianBrus
Posted: 05:12 PM Tuesday, November 22, 2011

OKLAHOMA CITY – Work on the Skydance Bridge over the new Interstate 40 Crosstown is under way, earlier than expected because of progress on I-40, Oklahoma City officials said Tuesday.

With spires suggesting the wings of a scissor-tailed flycatcher bird, the 18-story-tall bridge will be one of the most visible elements of extensive redevelopment of the Core to Shore area, about 750 acres of redevelopment between the downtown district and the river. Prefabricated pieces of the bridge and its art elements have been delivered to the construction site this week, Public Works Director Eric Wenger said.

The bridge will connect the north and south sides of the planned 70-acre central park as part of the $777 million MAPS 3 tax issue. The Federal Highway Administration required a pedestrian bridge as part of funding received for moving I-40 closer to the Oklahoma River. Since it was announced more than three years ago, the project’s overall cost has risen to about $12.8 million while some design elements of the bridge have been simplified.

But those changes haven’t affected the visual impact of the 380-foot, 102-ton steel bridge, Wenger said, which will be ready for public use by April. Within the next 12 days, the bridge’s signature vertical components will be erected, and other elements such as lighting, deck and railing will be installed before spring. The project’s completion was scheduled to coincide with the opening of I-40, several eastbound lanes of which are expected to be ready to bear automobile traffic shortly.

City Manager Jim Couch said, “We thought we would have a larger window to construct this later in the year, but because ODOT (state Transportation Department) was ahead of schedule in the construction of their project, they gave us a very short opening to put it in this December, to actually erect it. So we had to do some hustling here midsummer to modify our schedule.”

Even though the entire central park will not be completed by April, sidewalks will be installed to the bridge anyway to provide a link to the river for pedestrians and bicycle riders. Some City Council members earlier this year questioned whether Skydance would be a bridge to nowhere.

I feel opposite.

I'm ready for the all lit up night time version....

Hmmmm....apparently the Oklahoman didn't get the memo on the design change.

http://newsok.com/skydance-bridge-about-to-rise-up-in-oklahoma-city/article/3625770

With spires suggesting abandoned post industrial America equipment with no purpose but too costly to demolish.

fixed

It goes up in December 2011. I wonder when it will come down?

fixed

It goes up in December 2011. I wonder when it will come down?

DE, could you do me a favor and warn me ahead of time if you ever post anything "positive" about anything OKC does. Without prior notice, not sure my heart could handle it.

DE, could you do me a favor and warn me ahead of time if you ever post anything "positive" about anything OKC does. Without prior notice, not sure my heart could handle it.

That's your job Mr Happy, get on with the unicorns and rainbows. I'll call out the art as I see it.


One man's trash is another's treasure...I'm sure some people will love it and there's nothing wrong with that.

fixed

It goes up in December 2011. I wonder when it will come down?

Negative Nancy at his best............ugg

Didn't your momma tell you that if you couldn't say anything nice then don't say anything at all ?

Please talk about me. I agree I'm far more interesting than the topic.

What does the thing resemble more, a collapsed tower crane or a flying bird? Srsly.

The project jumped the shark a long time ago and should have been canceled.

Hmmmm....apparently the Oklahoman didn't get the memo on the design change.

http://newsok.com/skydance-bridge-about-to-rise-up-in-oklahoma-city/article/3625770

Why is Opubco so reluctant to publish the current design? Hmmm?

My favorite part about this bridge is that 99.9% of everybody driving under it or looking at it will love it... and the remaining 0.01% being complete morons, will look at it and it will ruin their day. That's called a win-win.

My favorite part about this bridge is that 99.9% of everybody driving under it or looking at it will love it... and the remaining 0.01% being complete morons, will look at it and it will ruin their day. That's called a win-win.

I wonder what % will wreck thinking, "what the heck is that??"

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6212/6390567231_bbe83a74c0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62052727@N06/6390567231/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

Click for largest view. Per the November 22nd Presentation to city council.

Thanks, Architect.


I'm hoping it will be lit in a way that the new open structure is actually an improvement.

I am excited for this project.

Let's save the judgment until the project is completed! it may turn out far better than the renderings or far worse, we won't know for at least a few more weeks!

Sorry, Ive been out of the loop on this one...

So

The tension cable structure is gone?
The redesign is a truss bridge?
The remainder is an assembly of space frames which look like construction cranes building something in progress?

Hmmmm???

This is a travesty compared to the original design.

OMG, we get it people, this design is disappointing compared to the original one, I agree, we're all aware so quit reminding us how much it sucks. Everytime I get on here I read something that I've already read before.

Work starts on Skydance Bridge over new I-40 Crosstown
By Brian Brus
Journal Record
Oklahoma City reporter - Contact: brian.brus@journalrecord.com / 405-278-2837 / https://twitter.com/JRBrianBrus
Posted: 05:12 PM Tuesday, November 22, 2011

OKLAHOMA CITY – Work on the Skydance Bridge over the new Interstate 40 Crosstown is under way, earlier than expected because of progress on I-40, Oklahoma City officials said Tuesday.... Since it was announced more than three years ago, the project’s overall cost has risen to about $12.8 million while some design elements of the bridge have been simplified. ...


The Oklahoman article said this:

... The $5.2 million pedestrian bridge, paid for by bond funds, will span the new Interstate 40, which is scheduled for completion next spring. ...

So which is it???

No, really, when are they going to add the skin to the space frame and suspension cables....?

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/pedestrianbridge.jpg

No, really, when are they going to add the skin to the space frame and suspension cables....?

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/pedestrianbridge.jpg

I'm sure you've heard "you can please some of the people, some of the time, but not all of the people, all of the time".

Some are never happy and never will be, they find fault in everything.

I like the bare bones/metal look better than the first rendering BUT......I do like the suspension cables too!I like it either way to be honest!

I like the bare bones/metal look better than the first rendering BUT......I do like the suspension cables too!I like it either way to be honest!

I agree, however, I've always been one to find the positive in almost everything, unlike some, I refuse to be negative 24/7.

No, really, when are they going to add the skin to the space frame and suspension cables....?

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/pedestrianbridge.jpg

It would be silly to add 'suspension' cables when they serve no purpose. Its a piece of abstract artwork at this point and people will either like it or hate it. They could have put up a giant oil derrick if they wanted to. I wouldn't put it past them since they have oil derricks going through the roof of the new northwest library.

I'm going to be out of town for the next month, looking forward to coming back when it's done!

Thanks, Architect.


I'm hoping it will be lit in a way that the new open structure is actually an improvement.

I second that thought! Come on LEDs!!!!

Out of curiosity, my wife and I drove to the site yesterday afternoon. From the east side of Union Station, some fairly decent views are available of pieces of the structure laying on the ground at this point. I thought they looked pretty good. It ought to be fun to watch the assembly of the pieces together which I suppose will begin shortly.

http://www.revolutionaryassistant.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Tire_Swing-Cartoon.gif

Supposed to be up by December 8.


Can't wait.

Supposed to be up by December 8.


Can't wait.

Hard to believe that's only about a week and a half away.

http://www.revolutionaryassistant.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Tire_Swing-Cartoon.gif

Wouldn't matter which version is/was, built, you would still moan, groan and b-itch, you must be a ball of fun during the Hoildays. Why not start the New Year on a positive note, try to find some good, anything good, about what this Great State is doing, you might just gain some friends and make yourself smile on the inside.

Wouldn't matter which version is/was, built, you would still moan, groan and b-itch, you must be a ball of fun during the Hoildays. Why not start the New Year on a positive note, try to find some good, anything good, about what this Great State is doing, you might just gain some friends and make yourself smile on the inside.

+1

I say he's Mr Negative Nancy........

Wouldn't matter which version is/was, built, you would still moan, groan and b-itch, you must be a ball of fun during the Hoildays. Why not start the New Year on a positive note, try to find some good, anything good, about what this Great State is doing, you might just gain some friends and make yourself smile on the inside.

This.

+1

I say he's Mr Negative Nancy........

I would tell him to jump off a bridge, but he would say that there isn't one that contains the proper artistic elements necessary to truly encapsulate the depth of his contemporary, smooth, and elegant choice to jump to his death/maiming...

I would tell him to jump off a bridge, but he would say that there isn't one that contains the proper artistic elements necessary to truly encapsulate the depth of his contemporary, smooth, and elegant choice to jump to his death/maiming...

LOL that made my day.

"God is in the detail."

The bridge might be good, but it could have been great. Why does that assertion bother you so much?

Anything that's truly great - a building, an album, a device: somebody went to war over the details.

Does it matter? I don't know, probably not. Or maybe it does.

It's not as good as it could have been, but was the original design worth an extra $7,000,000.00..............? Compared to what we're going to end up with, probably not.

I have a feeling we'll all be pleasantly surprised when complete.

Any new pics?

It's not as good as it could have been, but was the original design worth an extra $7,000,000.00..............? Compared to what we're going to end up with, probably not.

I have a feeling we'll all be pleasantly surprised when complete.

I hope you're right.

Seems like the current design could be made into the old design quite easily in the future sometime by just adding a sheet metal (or?) skin to the framework. Maybe the fact that we have had winds over 300mph in this area makes the open design a wise one--surface area might make the whole thing rock around during high winds. Looks great either way, I think. But the current design could really look cool with lots of well-placed LEDs to light it up.

oops wrong thread!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CR9x5iYUmj4/TtQF-COHjqI/AAAAAAAAASI/LnFLek2hD9c/s912/IMG_0073.JPG
from Friday

Damn, ask and you shall receive... go try that on the Devon tower thread dmoor82! ;-)

Since W&W is just down the tracks, it looks as if that's how they're shipping it by. Makes sense!

Actually they are shipping it by truck.

Any new pics?

Taken about an hour ago.

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