Regarding the realignment, if you look at a map, Harvey south of the railroad tracks (and what will be the new I-40) is slightly east of Harvey on the north side. Originally, the bridge was to be angled slightly to connect the two.

I suspect they now want to buy the junk yard east of Union Station so the bridge will be straight across.

what was the reason that the bridge had to be moved??State Historic Preservation Office.

From Steve's blog:


The State Historic Preservation Office blocked plans to have the bridge built where Harvey Avenue terminates at Union Station. This led to relocating the bridge eastward, the city having to buy more land, again another cost increase.

This makes no sense to me... Harvey runs next to Union Station and does not encroach upon it at all.

Perhaps the new bridge will actually extend past Union Station and block it in some way?

This whole thing is kind of like saying "I like the Golden Gate suspension bridge without the cables. Lets keep the two towers as art."

I appreciate the budgetary situation. But when you have an architectural competition, you ought to commit and respect the fundamentals of good architecture. Form meets function.

This whole thing is kind of like saying "I like the Golden Gate suspension bridge without the cables. Lets keep the two towers as art."

I appreciate the budgetary situation. But when you have an architectural competition, you ought to commit and respect the fundamentals of good architecture. Form meets function.

Amen, that is precisely what I was getting at, it is a principle in Architecture that we call design integrity. It is basically that the design of the structure is most pure when the things look the way they do because there is a required reason for them to do so. I.e. the cables are the structure not just a decoration that can be reconfigured. If the cables go what is the purpose of the tall sculptural elements? In the original design the were key structural supports that allowed for the counterbalancing of the forces created by the long span that projected across I-40, now they serve no purpose other than decoration and actually will require reconfiguration in and of themselves due to the unbalanced forces that will be removed with the cables and the tension acting on the vertical members keeping them stationary. So it is really a ridiculous assumption that the bridge can simply be done as a trussed structure and still have the decorative elements...no one who knows anything about design will buy it and it will be a laughing stock and the butt of many jokes at Okc's expense. Of course there are few if any of the City council members or even the mayor himself that will understand that, it requires them to be educated as to the value of good and tangible design with purpose. To do otherwise is kitsch and will stand as an icon of ignorance and will be a gimmick. Regrettable and forgettable.

Amen, that is precisely what I was getting at, it is a principle in Architecture that we call design integrity. It is basically that the design of the structure is most pure when the things look the way they do because there is a required reason for them to do so. I.e. the cables are the structure not just a decoration that can be reconfigured. If the cables go what is the purpose of the tall sculptural elements? In the original design the were key structural supports that allowed for the counterbalancing of the forces created by the long span that projected across I-40, now they serve no purpose other than decoration and actually will require reconfiguration in and of themselves due to the unbalanced forces that will be removed with the cables and the tension acting on the vertical members keeping them stationary. So it is really a ridiculous assumption that the bridge can simply be done as a trussed structure and still have the decorative elements...no one who knows anything about design will buy it and it will be a laughing stock and the butt of many jokes at Okc's expense. Of course there are few if any of the City council members or even the mayor himself that will understand that, it requires them to be educated as to the value of good and tangible design with purpose. To do otherwise is kitsch and will stand as an icon of ignorance and will be a gimmick. Regrettable and forgettable.

Very well said. My feelings are far less eloquent - this whole thing really sucks. If there is really and truly no way to salvage the original design, I would much a rather see a modest, more minimal structure with clean lines, than something that is half baked, and will be the subject of architectural ridicule.

Very well said. My feelings are far less eloquent - this whole thing really sucks. If there is really and truly no way to salvage the original design, I would much a rather see a modest, more minimal structure with clean lines, than something that is half baked, and will be the subject of architectural ridicule.
My thoughts exactly.

I've just read through this morning's Oklahoman and couldn't find anything there about this project. Possibly I missed something but I doubt it.

That's really not that surprising... Chances are, they know nothing even about this project.

I think it was mentioned earlier in this thread, but when the City issued the RFP for this project, and then the winning design was revealed, many knew there was little chance the winning design was going to be built within the budgeted monies. It is also unlikely that the three short listed design teams which interviwed had actual cost estimates that validated their proposed designs were in fact within the budget. That's just the nature of the game. It is impossible to get an accurate cost estimate prepared for an interview. Therefore, it merely becomes a design competition. Firms submit their design, one is chosen, and the committee and public fall in love with it minus the hard line constraints of the budgeted monies.

If budget was not a consideration on every project, many more public and private projects would have enhanced design solutions. Not all, but many. It happens every day. Interviews are conducted with nice renderings and committees fall in love with them, then the reality sets in to achieve the design within the budget. Sometimes that is doable, and sometimes it isn't. Often, the design team that's hired can sell a client on an enhanced design that the client could never thought about when they established the budget. Often clients set budgets by unit or square footage costs, bonds, taxes, assessments, etc. with no hard facts of costs as they might pertain to a particular site or nice design. Sometimes clients can find the additional monies to achieve enhanced designs and sometimes they can't. That's not to say that good design must cost more becasue it doesn't, but often it does. Most of the time though, I think these issues are brought up much sooner than the 85% stage of completion which is dissappointing in this case. It appears additional monies were indeed added to the original budget for various items, but the fact is the design was chosen because of it's sculptural and iconic qualities that OKC needs. It had little validation that it was within the City's budget. Unfortunately for the City, the fact that the cost is double the budget is a hard sell to the general public even the City could find an additional pot from which to pull. So, when some of you question why it doubled, you are assuming the initial design was always within the budget and that likely was not the case. This happens with public projects every day and it also happens in the private sector...........clients fall in love with a proposed design that ends up exceeding their budget.

I think in this case, we all agree the original design should not be compromised if all possible. The test will come in the reality of finding alternatives to reduce the cost. Reducing it roughly 50% and still keeping the integrity of the original design is likely a daunting task and probably not realistic. That's assuming the recent estimate is accurate. That large of a budget reduction is not considered value engineering where you look for cost cutting measures while keeping the design integrity, that's basically starting over. Hopefully this is not the case and at the end of the day, we'll still get an iconic design OKC deserves.

It looked alot like:

http://sm-a2.yimg.com/image/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4023%2 F5105206266_de7f636b1a_z.jpg&maxWidth=680&maxHeight=480&t=1288152470&ttl=129600&sig=U0pjghnM7h4X67.yIdH_Ng--~B

I just went to newsok.com to see what if anything Byran Dean may have reported on this. But all of newsok.com is down (including Steve's blog). Anyone read a morning paper yet?

On edit: I've just read through this morning's Oklahoman and couldn't find anything there about this project. Possibly I missed something but I doubt it.

Here ya go Doug...

http://www.newsok.com/feed/skydance-bridge-to-be-redesigned/article/3508495?custom_click=pod_headline_news

Skydance Bridge to be redesigned
The cost of the planned pedestrian bridge over the new Interstate 40 skyrocketed to more than twice its original estimate.
BY BRYAN DEAN Oklahoman Published: October 27, 2010

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said Tuesday he was "mildly disappointed" that the city had to re-think its design for the bridge.

"I just always hate to take less than our first choice," Cornett said. "It's not my instinct to settle for a lesser design. If we had more time, I'd like to get creative and see if we could find more money."
...
The bridge's main feature, the giant sculpture, remains unchanged. Cables will still run from the sculpture to the main part of the bridge, but they will no longer be load-bearing, Thompson said.

Instead, the lower part of the bridge will have a truss design, which will change the look of the bridge. It also will be thinner, going from 30 feet wide to 20 feet wide.

Oh... well don't I feel silly. We'll still have the sculpture! Why stop there? Let's have Russian Sam build us a cardboard cut-out of the missing 75 feet from the Devon Tower. We can glue it to the top and BAM... data center smata center!! It doesn't matter if it's real. Just has to look like it's right. I swear sometimes it seems like Oklahoma Government entities budget "constituent ignorance" into their plans. Still have the cables but they won't be load bearing? Wish we had more time... as if to say they gained knowledge of the problems last Friday like we all did? Whaaaat? Ha ha ha ha ha! Great planning! Yeah, I know it will probably look great, but.... I'm tired of the ever present BUT... Makes me wonder though. When I go to Vegas and see a Michael Jackson or Prince impersonator, why are the tickets so cheap???? They should be charging more!

I kid! I hope it looks great! Kinda miffed about the fact that I now have to HOPE it looks great.

I'm a little confused about why the Pedestrian bridge being completely now is so critically important. We don't have a pedestrian bridge over the current I-40, and I would think this bridge, until they're completing the park south of I-40, would not really be used much. Where would a pedestrian using it be going, and until the park is done, why would he or she even be there? I would think we have all the time in the world to get it done and could see if additional monies could be found to do it right.

I'm a little confused about why the Pedestrian bridge being completed now is so critically important.

I agree betts. Maybe it has to do with not wanting to interrupt traffic flow to an extreme degree once the freeway is open??? I dunno.

I'm a little confused about why the Pedestrian bridge being completely now is so critically important. ...

Maybe because the puppeteers who pull the (non-load bearing) strings on such matters want it that way?
Not my city, not real likely to ever use the bridge in question, but day-um, that's just plain old sad for an excuse.

When was the last time Okc didn't have to scale down a project due to poor budgeting?

I don't know why we are all surprised about this news.

I know it sounds bad, but I wish Devon or CHK or someone would step up, it's nothing to them and as someone said, who cares if they have to commercialize it and sell the naming rights to the bridge. It'd be a great opportunity for say OK owned Love's Country Store, motorists can stop for fuel at a Love's nearby.

When was the last time Okc didn't have to scale down a project due to poor budgeting?

I don't know why we are all surprised about this news.

No, we could do like California....build it anyway and go massively in debt and expect someone else to magically bail us out (we can only go to the Devon or Chesapeak well so often before it runs dry or is closed to us.\

I know it sounds bad, but I wish Devon or CHK or someone would step up, it's nothing to them and as someone said, who cares if they have to commercialize it and sell the naming rights to the bridge. It'd be a great opportunity for say OK owned Love's Country Store, motorists can stop for fuel at a Love's nearby.

LOL. Will it have a sign on it with the Loves, Devon or (fill in the blank) logo? That might just hurt the design a tad too.

When was the last time Okc didn't have to scale down a project due to poor budgeting?

I don't know why we are all surprised about this news.

Kill the motor. I am just as disappointed, but everything I am finding out removes a lot of the blame from Oklahoma City. First, ODOT stipulated that the load requirements be increased on the bridge to handle the weight of maintenance vehicles. Second, there was a requirement that the project use American-made materials. The appeal was denied to use foreign materials.

Now, could there have been more efficient communication to overcome these issues so that everyone is on the same page? Yes. However, to OKC's defense, you'd be amazed at how many public projects get scaled back in different cities across the country. Private projects usually do not get scaled back.

Tulsa was over-budget on the BOK Center. Solution? They borrowed money to cover the funding gap. Bad move, because now the BOK Center is $183 million plus interest.

Good point, ODOT is largely to blame. I don't think the "American-made" materials is hurting it too much, as no one has really mentioned that in the media articles, including Assistant City Manager who has largely been the one discussing the issue.

I know it sounds bad, but I wish Devon or CHK or someone would step up,

Or maybe it's time for someone else to join in adding something iconic to the city... Maybe someone who could use some good will right now... something that will distract people from the wrecking balls they're bringing to downtown... nah, that would only work if their name would rhyme with bridge... hey, wait a second....

Private projects usually do not get scaled back.

Huh?

I was with you until this. Private projects get scaled back all the time, too. Sometimes they get flat out abandoned half way through.

I am not blaming anyone, there is plenty of it to go around, and I understand budgeting difficulties.


This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to build this "World Class, Iconic, Big-League" pedestrian bridge as it was originally designed. This bridge is to be the connection to CORE 2 Shore. Pull MAPS3 money from the $25 million allocated for moving OGE substation along the new boulevard.

Also there is an article today in DOK about W&W steel company stating that steel fabrication and materials are at lowest prices in recent years. http://newsok.com/steel-company-forging-ahead-with-prominent-projects/article/3508497?custom_click=lead_story_title And that is from a local company American made.

I am very disappointed and I have written the mayor too.

How many think this is the only scaling back of this bridge that will take place?

IMHO this is only the first one of a few that will take place.

I bet the final structure looks nothing like the rendering.

Huh?

I was with you until this. Private projects get scaled back all the time, too. Sometimes they get flat out abandoned half way through.

Well, come to think of it you're right. And they do get publicity, but I quickly forget. Public projects are a whole other ballgame.

I suspect maybe these games are an effort to get some private group to fund this bridge for a civic project...not a completely bad idea--but risky in the end. What say you?

jmark, I don't think our city leaders are smart enough to think of strategies like that. Sure we have great cohesive city leadership (minus Brian Walters), but they aren't the most creative bunch by a long shot.

I'm a little confused about why the Pedestrian bridge being completely now is so critically important. We don't have a pedestrian bridge over the current I-40, and I would think this bridge, until they're completing the park south of I-40, would not really be used much. Where would a pedestrian using it be going, and until the park is done, why would he or she even be there? I would think we have all the time in the world to get it done and could see if additional monies could be found to do it right.

Betts, it probably has to do with ODoT's environmental assessment as part of the overall approval of the highway project. I have spoken with a few people "in the know" and apparently the price wasn't a surprise coming. ODoT kept mandating changes that the city forwarded on to the design team. The design team made it to 85% final drawings on the suspension bridge design.

The city could see the cost going up and therefore they applied for a TIGER funds several months ago. It just generally wasn't noted by the public or the media. When it was on the council agenda, I wondered why it was there because I thought that the bridge wasn't in trouble and completely paid for with city funds. I don't remember it being discussed at council as it was a fairly innocuous item and just sounded like the city was going after whatever funds were available.

Unless the city council has a change of heart, and you guys positively influence the outcome, the only hope I see as of right now for that bridge to be completed as designed is for us to receive that TIGER money. It might be worth a call or letter to Senator Inhofe.

I encourage everyone to write the city (and ODOT??) to express our dissatisfaction with the scale back decision; if you haven't already done so. I personally am going to and will offer some suggestions.

Guys, Im sure you all agree - but I will say that we should not scale back on our ambitious attempts at creating an icon for our city. This will TRULY be world class (if built to original design) and IS something that every media or publication could use as OKC's defining icon - in similar regards to the space needle for seattle, the arch for STL, and Sears Tower/John Hankock skyscrapers in Chicago. Building a world class, sexy pedestrian bridge anchoring the interactive Central Park would forever REDEFINE Oklahoma City and add to the city's status as a major city. It's more than JUST a bridge, it is a symbol of renaissance!

I agree and will do my part in rattling cans......

As I was reading through this thread, I noticed that back on 10/23, someone said something about the Ford Center projects being "scaled back". Does anyone know what is going on with this? I haven't heard anything...thanks!

Guys, Im sure you all agree - but I will say that we should not scale back on our ambitious attempts at creating an icon for our city. This will TRULY be world class (if built to original design) and IS something that every media or publication could use as OKC's defining icon - in similar regards to the space needle for seattle, the arch for STL, and Sears Tower/John Hankock skyscrapers in Chicago. Building a world class, sexy pedestrian bridge anchoring the interactive Central Park would forever REDEFINE Oklahoma City and add to the city's status as a major city. It's more than JUST a bridge, it is a symbol of renaissance!

I think you're overstating the case. Rather broadly, in fact.

I've heard people say "Who cares its a bridge?" and I agree to some extent but this thing had a chance to be amazing! I hope the design stays..

I encourage everyone to write the city (and ODOT??) to express our dissatisfaction with the scale back decision; if you haven't already done so. I personally am going to and will offer some suggestions.

Guys, Im sure you all agree - but I will say that we should not scale back on our ambitious attempts at creating an icon for our city. This will TRULY be world class (if built to original design) and IS something that every media or publication could use as OKC's defining icon - in similar regards to the space needle for seattle, the arch for STL, and Sears Tower/John Hankock skyscrapers in Chicago. Building a world class, sexy pedestrian bridge anchoring the interactive Central Park would forever REDEFINE Oklahoma City and add to the city's status as a major city. It's more than JUST a bridge, it is a symbol of renaissance!

To put this in the same category with any of these mentioned is just silly. This is a PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE over a highway. It is nice. Not iconic. Not an image you will see when OKC is mentioned. Not like the needle in Seattle, or the CN tower in Toronto, or the Arch in St. Louis, or Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, or Alamo in San Antonio or the bridge in Boston, etc., etc. This is smaller in scale, will have no history and will not tower in the skyline. People are way too worked up about this.

Bornhere and Rover,

you are entitled to your opinion and so am I.

actually - you often attack my posts, so that might lend some question to your posts.

I think it is fair to disagree, but for you to consistently have my posts ridiculed or dissected in such methods seems more like an attack on me and less of a value added post to this thread. You can dish the hate, maybe we should see if you can take it.

Well, I think Rover pretty well summed it up. All I would add is that I've seen OKC go through any number of big! exciting! iconic! signature! projects, including, but not limited to, the 'End of the Trail' statue, the 'Arrows to Atoms' tower, the Buffalo Bill statue (does anyone even know this exists anymore?), the Land Run Monument, the Crystal Bridge, the Oklahoma! River, Remington Park, Aquaticus, etc., etc., and every time one of these was in the making, all the same people hyperventilated about how that project was going to 'put us on the map' or whatever. Then about eighteen months after that project was complete, the same people were whining, 'We suck! We've got to have [Next Big Thing] to put us on the map!'

So, I've seen about fifty years of stunt projects to 'put us on the map,' and I'm a little skeptical when folks drag out the same worn-out superlatives for whatever pet project they've gotten a chubby for.

To put this in the same category with any of these mentioned is just silly. This is a PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE over a highway. It is nice. Not iconic. Not an image you will see when OKC is mentioned. Not like the needle in Seattle, or the CN tower in Toronto, or the Arch in St. Louis, or Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, or Alamo in San Antonio or the bridge in Boston, etc., etc. This is smaller in scale, will have no history and will not tower in the skyline. People are way too worked up about this.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?! You have seen the renderings, right? If so, you don't have much vision do you?!? Try to picture this for a minute.. (Game 7 of the NBA finals, ESPN comes back from a commercial break with a camera south of the Oklahoma river over looking a lit up SkyDance Bridge (Original rendering) connecting our central park, Ford Center in the background with a "Brand New" Convention Center and a lit up 850' Devon tower.) Wait... Your right, no one would remember that. It is just a bridge! (SARCASM)

You're right. No one would remember that.

just to be clear and take some of the negative posts as constructive as can be - I didn't say the SkyDance Bridge will be at the same level or as tall as those other city landmarks I mentioned (and I think it is ridiculous for someone to assume that is what I meant). My point was, it is a chance for OKC to have IT'S landmark, something that nobody else has - 'an Iconic pedestrian bridge linking a revitalized downtown central park with the river district'. ...

in function, yes it is a pedestrian bridge (therefore, why does it need to be vehicle load bearing???) - but it is a beautiful design that could truly define OKC's Renaissance and be used as the icon 'picture' of the city, much like Space Needle, Arch, and Sears/Big John in those cities.

We in OKC have been asking for an iconic landmark, and to me - SkyDance Bridge is our best (and cheapest) chance. When OKC is on tv, media could be shooting shots with a vantage of this Icon and Downtown in the background (instead of the LoBrick fountain they use today...)

Just as Watson, I and others have said, this pedestrian bridge will link a completely revitalized (planned) area, which in itself will lend credibility to OKC's Renaissance and status as a progressive city. The design of the bridge will be Icing on the cake. ... Let's don't mess it up.

The sculptural structural elements themselves rise up 185'-0" into the air. It is true that it does not compete with the other iconic elements used as an example in the literal sense but it is not a bridge that will go unnoticed. The lines of the structure themselves draw your eyes to its sense of motion, and with the lighting scheme, it will be breathtaking at night all lit up. It will certainly have a memorable impact on the motorists that pass below it.

If we wanted to discard the functional aspect of its connectivity and the tie that it makes between the riverfront and the Core to shore over the relocated I-40, and since it is having to be vehicle load rated, why not just move the whole thing and replace the I-35 or with the design scaled up to a much larger degree and really make a statement. Unfortunately that would likely cost near a hundred million, such as Dallas is finding out with their iconic bridges over the Trinity River. Let’s go ahead and pony up for that and let it soar over 400' into the air and really make a statement...I just don't know who would pay for it.

Now back to reality...the original design is elegant and is appropriately scaled for the span and the size of the bridge and will be a lasting point of interest for our city, and those who are simply passing through. People want to be around structures that are well designed public works of functional art. I really think that it could have a far more reaching impact on the gentrification of those areas as well as public object that would become a lasting and quality marketing image for the city for years to come much like the Myriad Gardens crystal bridge which to this day is one of our most striking images that we see of our downtown skyline. There is tangible and even more intangible value in this project being built as it was intended to be as originally conceived and designed. I sincerely hope for a positive outcome for this critical project.

Unless the city council has a change of heart, and you guys positively influence the outcome, the only hope I see as of right now for that bridge to be completed as designed is for us to receive that TIGER money. It might be worth a call or letter to Senator Inhofe.

I notice that you didn't say Senator Coburn. Good luck with getting the doctor to help with anything like that.

http://www.newsok.com/feed/cables-cut-for-planned-skydance-bridge/article/3508772?custom_click=pod_headline_news

Cables cut for planned Skydance Bridge (Oklahoman, 10/28/10)
Oklahoma City officials said a change in design means cables which were to hang from the Skydance Bridge's massive sculpture will no longer be included.


The planned Skydance Bridge will keep its 18-story sculpture inspired by the flight of a scissor-tailed flycatcher, but not the cables that were to hang from the sculpture to the bridge below, city officials said Wednesday.
City council members voted Tuesday to change the pedestrian bridge's design after its estimated construction cost more than doubled. The new design will change the bridge from a cable-stay structure to a truss bridge.
City officials originally said the bridge would keep its cables, but they would be decorative rather than load-bearing. Assistant City Manager Jim Thompson said Wednesday that will not be the case.
"It will be just a free-standing structure," Thompson said. "It will still look similar to the original design."

Watched the Council meeting and didn't see where they voted/discussed this at all. Was curious how many/who voted for this travesty (all council members were present). If anyone has that info, please post...

Anybody surprised in the increase in price hasn't been paying attention to the cost of metals.

Then what about this article that ran in the Oklahoman the same day as one about the redesign?

http://www.newsok.com/steel-company-forging-ahead-with-prominent-projects/article/3508497?custom_click=pod_lead_business

Steel company forging ahead with prominent projects
W&W Steel has been based in Oklahoma City since 1945


...And clients are benefiting from lower material costs that have made construction cheaper in recent years.

"Right now is our most economical time to build," he said.

As others have pointed out, we have been paying attention and the economy (lower construction costs etc) was one of the selling points of MAPS 3 ... now is the time to be building when prices are low. Either it was true or it wasn't. Too much conflicting info even on this one project. Gazette reported the cables are gone, Oklahoman reports the cables are still there but not load bearing. Then the very next day says the cables are gone. (Conflicting info from the City)

City Manager says that they will keep the original design just in case more money becomes available (which implies that the changes are purely cosmetic and can be added on at a later date). But how do you change a bridge from a truss design to a cable design, AFTER it has already been built? IF they do that, seems that would add to the cost significantly yet again. They are under a time crunch to get this built before I-40 opens (at some point in 2012, IF it doesn't get delayed further...was supposed to have been completed in 2008 originally).

Reminds me of the scaled back MAPS Arena (formerly known as the Ford Center) where due to cost over runs, they scaled things back (and still came in $8M+ over budget) and to add those items back in 5 years later ended up costing $100M more (more than it cost to begin with). And as others have mentioned, even the $100M reno got scaled back too (primarily a practice court if I recall correctly).

Buy American clause? Then why not use the Oklahoma City based company that is mentioned in the article?

Had to but additional land because of the shift in location? Should be a wash, as the City can sell the original land.

ODOT requires additional load requirements? Then let ODOT come up with the additional money since they changed the requirements in mid-design.

I encourage everyone to write the city (and ODOT??) to express our dissatisfaction with the scale back decision; if you haven't already done so. I personally am going to and will offer some suggestions.

Guys, Im sure you all agree - but I will say that we should not scale back on our ambitious attempts at creating an icon for our city. This will TRULY be world class (if built to original design) and IS something that every media or publication could use as OKC's defining icon - in similar regards to the space needle for seattle, the arch for STL, and Sears Tower/John Hankock skyscrapers in Chicago. Building a world class, sexy pedestrian bridge anchoring the interactive Central Park would forever REDEFINE Oklahoma City and add to the city's status as a major city. It's more than JUST a bridge, it is a symbol of renaissance!


HOTROD,
I agree with you. OKC build this bridge right!

Rover,
The kind of small minded thinking you reflect is what has kept and is keeping OKC relatively stagnant (from a too conservative perspective) and from realizing its full potential

To put this in the same category with any of these mentioned is just silly. This is a PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE over a highway. It is nice. Not iconic. Not an image you will see when OKC is mentioned. Not like the needle in Seattle, or the CN tower in Toronto, or the Arch in St. Louis, or Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, or Alamo in San Antonio or the bridge in Boston, etc., etc. This is smaller in scale, will have no history and will not tower in the skyline. People are way too worked up about this.

It would be, however, a quite positive conversation piece for millions who drive past it on I-40...it's reason for being all along...

The Bridge will be built as planned...wait and see...

BTW--that stupid HOOP in St. Louis is about as pointless as it gets...and a real nightmare to try to get into...the analogy to the 'Gateway to the West' is a bit of a stretch for a hoop...

The Bridge will be built as planned...wait and see...

What leads you to believe this? Public outcry?

What leads you to believe this? Public outcry?

Just think that the city has come too far and done too much already to start going backwards...once in a while you have to bite the bullet and pay a little more for one thing or another...I think the people will make it happen. Too good an idea and landmark to pass up for a few bucks...

Just want to go on record and declare that I would like to see the ped. bridge constructed as orginally planned.

Well, I think Rover pretty well summed it up. All I would add is that I've seen OKC go through any number of big! exciting! iconic! signature! projects, including, but not limited to, the 'End of the Trail' statue, the 'Arrows to Atoms' tower, the Buffalo Bill statue (does anyone even know this exists anymore?), the Land Run Monument, the Crystal Bridge, the Oklahoma! River, Remington Park, Aquaticus, etc., etc., and every time one of these was in the making, all the same people hyperventilated about how that project was going to 'put us on the map' or whatever. Then about eighteen months after that project was complete, the same people were whining, 'We suck! We've got to have [Next Big Thing] to put us on the map!'

I 100% agree with you that all of those things you mentioned were over sold. While many of them have merit and add character to our community and reflect its culture, they lacked any potential to become iconic. The biggest hurdle they face to become an icon of the city is mainly visibility. All of those things one essentially has to seek out. They are not, by nature, part of the "face" of the city.

This project is different. This bridge will be visible to anyone who visits OKC, whether they are seeking out the structure or not. Even just anyone who drives through the city will see this bridge more than any other part of the city. Downtown will not even be as visible on this part of the freeway as this bridge will be due to I-40 going from being elevate to being recessed below ground level. It will not just be a part of the face of the city, it will be the one thing that everyone will see as they pass through. Every city over 200,000 people has skyscrapers. Very few cities, especially those of our size and economic capacity, have something that combines the uniqueness of this design with universal visibility.

In addition, this bridge will actually serve a functional purpose in linking the core business area to a recreational area. It could very well serve as a meeting place for those spending the day downtown. It will be one of those things that gains history and significance over time. Sure, I think it is something for the next generations more than ours. It's much more likely that the younger generations will view the city as alive and active with the core and the river as the city's heart, rather than just a disconnected sprawl of unrelated mass. In that sense this will be a visual centerpiece linking it all together.

Of course, it won't be a Golden Gate bridge, Space needle, St. Louis Arch. etc. Those are significantly larger in scale, but so are those communities. It probably won't be a national icon in any sense, but at about the size of the Statue of Liberty without the pedestal, it has all the potential to be OUR icon. And even if it is not on every postcard of Oklahoma City, it will significantly enhance the face of the city in a way none of the projects you mention even attempted to do. You won't have to seek out this structure at all. It will be there and you will see it every time you drive down I-40, go downtown, or visit the river.

If there is any reason not to half ass it, it is precisely because it will be so visible. Unlike all of the projects you mentioned before, we won't be able to hide it. You won't be able to miss it. It will be a part of the city's face, whether we want it to be or not. The question isn't really whether or not it will be an icon of the city. The question is what kind of statement will the inevitable icon make.

TIGER II grants awarded October 20 do not include the pedestrian bridge.

Rover,
The kind of small minded thinking you reflect is what has kept and is keeping OKC relatively stagnant (from a too conservative perspective) and from realizing its full potential

Wow...I've NEVER been called conservative. If you only knew me. LOL.

I have traveled extensively and been involved with some major construction projects in the world and can tell you the pedestrian bridge over I-40 is far from "iconic" in stature. It may be unique, interesting, forward, etc. and I would truly love to see the original design built. But having viewed truly iconic structures around the world I can tell you this wouldn't come close. I love OKC as much as anyone but I think a serious dose of perspective and reality is in order on this issue. I think Shakespeare would call it a "tempest in a teapot".

Just saying...people need to get out and see the world before taking this all so seriously.

... I think Shakespeare would call it a "tempest in a teapot". ...

Nice teapot reference, what with all the bridge cables being cut away like little useless strings.

I think by "iconic" people mean for this area, this city. Of course, it is not the Eiffel Tower...but it is a nice design over the freeway...

Nice teapot reference, what with all the bridge cables being cut away like little useless strings.

I thought the cables are staying, but will be cosmetic in nature, not structural. I believe that is what the articles are saying. The main sculpture and cables will still be there but the actual bridge is scaled down and now a heavier looking span vs the lighter looking suspended bridge. The bridge width is being reduced to 20 ft, which won't affect so much what it looks like driving past it on I-40. The "iconic" bird feature and cables will still be there, I believe.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

I think by "iconic" people mean for this area, this city. Of course, it is not the Eiffel Tower...but it is a nice design over the freeway...

I understand, but to me "iconic" would be something that if it were shown in Boston on TV, or in a movie somewhere in the world everyone in the audience would think "Oklahoma City". It just isn't majestic enough to be in that category, imho.

ICONIC: A cultural icon can be a symbol, a logo, picture, name, face, person, building or other image that is readily recognized, and generally represents an object or concept with great cultural significance to a wide cultural group. A representation of an object or person, or that object or person may come to be regarded as having a special status as particularly representative of, or important to, or loved by, a particular group of people, a place, or a period in history.

The article today says the cables are gone altogether. Plus, this still negates the purpose of good architecture "Form meets Function."

It is simply sculptural. I was talking to one of the architects. He told me that it is actually "harder" to turn it into a truss type bridge. But in his words is not "what the bridge wants to be."

That doesn't mean that the "truss" aspect doesn't cut the costs. It does in fact. But it isn't "what it wants to be."