AAre they not going to dress it with more feathers/scales than just the lower tier of it?

I noticed it today, you can see it off to the east looking from I44 by the fairgrounds. I am free tomorrow, I'll see if I can get down there and get some shots.

From today's Oklahoman:

http://photos3.newsok.com/cache/r960-54945743fe837b2e9bc9b3f60d1fc2e9.jpg

http://photos3.newsok.com/cache/r960-610c6df62150dc3dba4af5f82821d678.jpg


Crews working on the bridge should have enough work completed to allow for the opening of at least three lanes of the new I-40 in each direction well before January, city spokeswoman Kristy Yager said. Overheard construction work should be completed by late spring, which would enable officials to open all five lanes in each direction.

The $5.2 million bridge, paid for by bond funds, has a centerpiece sculpture that is intended to evoke the “sky dance” of the scissor-tailed flycatcher, the state bird. It will connect a 70-acre urban park.


Read more: http://newsok.com/new-i-40-in-oklahoma-city-could-open-in-january/article/3632077#ixzz1gcOOwQSO

There must be some confusion. I doubt the bridge is keeping them from opening all five lanes until spring. The two ends of the new I-40 will narrow down to three lanes until the westbound side is completed.

I'm betting that for a good stretch, all 10 lanes will be open for west and eastbound traffic. Certain lanes will be closed, like the Shields westbound entrance ramp, as seen above, because there's still work to be done. Those will open shortly after.

I'm betting that for a good stretch, all 10 lanes will be open for west and eastbound traffic. Certain lanes will be closed, like the Shields westbound entrance ramp, as seen above, because there's still work to be done. Those will open shortly after.

I'm sure they won't open westbound until all those ramps are done which won't take long.

I'm sure they won't open westbound until all those ramps are done which won't take long.

For thru traffic, they may as well. That way they can finish the east end of the project faster--the tie-ins.

I don't remember hearing or not.. Is this bridge going to have any special lighting?
Some color changing LED's would be really cool! Light it up blue for the playoffs? :)

I don't remember hearing or not.. Is this bridge going to have any special lighting?
Some color changing LED's would be really cool! Light it up blue for the playoffs? :)

I can't wait to see what it looks like lit up! I can see it from my office so it will be cool to see lit up before I head home from work!

Is this bridge going to have any special lighting?


I saw them doing lighting testing the night before they installed the west wing. The lighting tests were shifting through entire color spectrum and stopped on many individual colors. The affects of the back lit feathers was stunning.

I saw them doing lighting testing the night before they installed the west wing. The lighting tests were shifting through entire color spectrum and stopped on many individual colors. The affects of the back lit feathers was stunning.

Would love to see some pictures of the color testing if anyone can get any!

Would love to see some pictures of the color testing if anyone can get any!

Here in a couple of months we should see much more than a test. It'll give folks a reason to take a stroll to it. I still wonder if it will be a driving distraction to those passing under on the interstate.

It might be a distraction, but not a dangerous one. Looking up while driving is normal. We do it all the time. Looking down or to the side is much more dangerous.

It might be a distraction, but not a dangerous one. Looking up while driving is normal. We do it all the time. Looking down or to the side is much more dangerous.

I drive into OKC on I-40 from the west everyday, and on the Morgan Rd bridge (new bridge) the construction crews have been parking a pickup over the east bound lanes with their emergency lights on. They have done this for the past couple of weeks before 7:00 am. Since they started doing that, everyone has been hiting their brakes and bringing the flow to a near crawl at times. Just this week since they changed the on/off ramps, they no longer have the lights flashing on top of the bridge, and now it's great diving through there.......this was why I asked about distractions...

Here in a couple of months we should see much more than a test.

Rumor has it that the lights will be on for first Thunder game; albeit temporary.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d85/hansnet/I40%20Crosstown%20OKC%20%20112011/i4022.jpg

From today.

and a little hdr fun:


https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/393190_10150467537069456_608659455_8442547_1301927 655_n.jpg

Rumor has it that the lights will be on for first Thunder game; albeit temporary.

I'm going so I'll be sure to glance that direction.

The first preseason game on the 20th or the first regular season game on Christmas?

Christmas

I really, really wish they would bury those power lines spanning I-40... totally detracts from the great bridge!

We can't even get them to move the OGE substation next to our $120 million park. Slim chance on the power lines.

We can't even get them to move the OGE substation next to our $120 million park. Slim chance on the power lines.

Don't dash my dreams! :)

I really, really wish they would bury those power lines spanning I-40... totally detracts from the great bridge!

The time to do that would have been at least five years ago.

I really, really wish they would bury those power lines spanning I-40... totally detracts from the great bridge!

If the suspension cables were still part of the design the architect could call his work "Bird Caught In A Net".

"Bird Caught In A Net".Better than "spider casting a web"

Looks great during the sunset, the light reflects off beautifully off of those metal panels! Looks great!

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Skydance%20Bridge/IMG_2572.jpg

Did video this morning...

Link for those of us using mobile? THX.

Why is one tail longer than the other?

Why is one tail longer than the other?

Don't take the bait.

Don't take the bait.

Amen

Link for those of us using mobile? THX.

Yes, William, please!

I'm just now posting it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH7P2uYRlaM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH7P2uYRlaM

Awesome William! Can't tell you how much your efforts are appreciated.


On those closeup shots you can see tons of LED lighting fixtures... Can't wait to see it all fully functional!

Looking good. They had the panel above that one installed later that afternoon.

It's all coming together fairly well, isn't it?

I knew it would be tall but WOW!This thing is massive.Will,thanks for postin'.

I took a pic of it today, but limited access to the net will keep me from posting it!

Thank you good sir.

Im looking forward to seeing how the communities around the area progress as the area progresses.

That's a great video of the bridge William. Can't wait to get back and take some beauty shots of it.

By the way, they have been testing the LED's each night.

That's a great video of the bridge William. Can't wait to get back and take some beauty shots of it.

By the way, they have been testing the LED's each night.

If you've seen the LED light testing, what's your impression ?

A New Icon for OKC? (http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/12/19/a-new-icon-for-okc/)

It wasn’t that long ago that the online community was fretting about a cut in funding for the Skydance pedestrian bridge over the new I-40 south of downtown and changes that included the elimination of metal cable ropes planned as part of the original winning design. It looks like the actual bridge ain’t too shabby and such worries may have been unwarranted.

Cool photo from today's Oklahoman shows how the bridge has that little bend in it:

http://photos3.newsok.com/cache/r960-a32867d91864aa8bc9a7990bfe7b203f.jpg

So... part of the new I40 should be opening today...? Anyone know what time? Probably at night.

^
not today... the current target is january. -M

Sad day! I've been really excited to drive on it.

looking at the pic, it's hard to believe that the bridge on the left used to be the robinson underpass! -M

The power lines really finish the look.

The power lines really finish the look.

Yep, gives it an urban feel........j/k

The power lines really finish the look.

i've never understood that... why don't we bury more power lines? other than the aesthetics, certainly it would make sense with all the wind and ice we get.

-M

Captcha: Boondoggle

i've never understood that... why don't we bury more power lines? other than the aesthetics, certainly it would make sense with all the wind and ice we get.

-M

Cost.

Cost.

Wouldn't the cost of burying lines in certain places offset the cost of potential replacement of said lines if they were still above ground?

About the suggestion in possibly burying the power lines under I-40: Didn't they have to raise the highway up already from original plans because of the high water table? Maybe they would have faced similar issues in the burying of any power lines.

Wouldn't the cost of burying lines in certain places offset the cost of potential replacement of said lines if they were still above ground?

Utility people tell me it is much cheaper to build and maintain above the ground than in the ground. If it were cheaper doing it underground, they would. Life cost is still less above.

It isn't about cost, it is about aesthetics. There are no viable powerlines downtown. Devon Tower will use jigawatt of power and narry a powerline visable. The powerlines behind Devon Boathouse were also burried 2 years ago.

Utility people tell me it is much cheaper to build and maintain above the ground than in the ground. If it were cheaper doing it underground, they would. Life cost is still less above.

Okies know "cheaper is always better"! LOL

Above ground is used all over the country. This isn't an Okie thing. In fact, underground is a small percentage. To bury power lines costs around $1 million per mile. Then there are phone lines, etc. Underground lines can have water issues and causes of outages are harder to find and more expensive to repair. So it is really a cost benefit analysis and the perception of value by those footing the bill. That said, you would think that any new project downtown would incorporate burying the lines at the time the streets, etc. are reconstructed/reconfigured. JTF is correct, it is mostly about aesthetics as well as safeguarding against onerous weather problems.

Also, these high capacity lines are not the same as the service that runs through your backyard.


Even the ones just north of Boathouse Row are to be moved at great expense but not buried.