I went thru there this past Friday to see what I had heard about having not even known they finally re-did the sorely needed crosstown expressway.
WOW!! It was all I could do to stay on the road (well that and the strong wind!) from wanting to take it all in! It took me several minutes to release how far away from downtown it now is but seemed for the most part, to be pretty cool! :Smiley173
Could anyone tell me what that crazy "art" structure was? Some kind of scissor metal looking thing laid on what I think might have been a indoor crosswalk maybe?

I went thru there this past Friday to see what I had heard about having not even known they finally re-did the sorely needed crosstown expressway.
WOW!! It was all I could do to stay on the road (well that and the strong wind!) from wanting to take it all in! It took me several minutes to release how far away from downtown it now is but seemed for the most part, to be pretty cool! :Smiley173
Could anyone tell me what that crazy "art" structure was? Some kind of scissor metal looking thing laid on what I think might have been a indoor crosswalk maybe?

You might want to check out this thread.

http://www.okctalk.com/transportation/15390-new-i-40-construction-updates-64.html

And this one.

http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=I-40+Pedestrian+Bridge&highlight=skydance&do=comments&page=85

The "Art" structure is a depiction of a scissor-tail flycatcher (doing a mating dance), and the name of the bridge is "Skydance Bridge". It is a pedestrian bridge from the future North Central Park to the even more future South Central Park.

If you went by during the day, you missed the lighting of the structure during the evening.

Or at least some so called "artists" idea of a scissor tail flycatcher. Sure hope it didn't cost the tens of millions like the statue on the Capitol.

It did. But having a pedestrian bridge was required for us to get federal highway dollars. Might as well have one that doesn't suck. After all, it got you to say "wow". Everybody I know thinks it looks neat.

It did. But having a pedestrian bridge was required for us to get federal highway dollars. Might as well have one that doesn't suck. After all, it got you to say "wow". Everybody I know thinks it looks neat.

The Bridge cost 10s of millions...did the actual "sculpture" cost that much?

Also...it's pretty dang cool at night, and for the truckers and other people who have to travel at night, I'm sure it's a nice little surprise on what is probably a long and arduous trip.

The Bridge cost 10s of millions...did the actual "sculpture" cost that much?

Also...it's pretty dang cool at night, and for the truckers and other people who have to travel at night, I'm sure it's a nice little surprise on what is probably a long and arduous trip.

the cost of the bridge and sculpture combined was 5.8 million

the cost of the bridge and sculpture combined was 5.8 million

so the sculpture was probably 1-2?

so the sculpture was probably 1-2?

ODOT payed 3.5 million for the bridge project. OKC payed 2.3 million total; though some of that 2.3 may have been spent on the actual bridge, I do not know if we had to match some percentage on that, it also includes what they payed for study and design.

Was a pretty cool red last night on the commute home

Anyone know offhand when the whole thing should be done specifically westbound near I44?

It did and generally, most people like it or love it.

It's ODOT cilantro. (or, as a childhood friend of mine who walked away from OU with a Masters of Fine Arts once said: "It's art. Get used to it.")

Thanks for all the replies. Very interesting!

The Bridge cost 10s of millions...did the actual "sculpture" cost that much?

Also...it's pretty dang cool at night, and for the truckers and other people who have to travel at night, I'm sure it's a nice little surprise on what is probably a long and arduous trip.

I've travelled I-40 from one end to the other. I will say I-40 through OKC is probably the second most interesting urban stretch, with the most interesting being through Albuquerque. The new crosstown is definitely impressive and gives a more urban feel to passers through, as urban as freeways can be I guess. What OKC needs is a light rail line connecting downtown with Norman and with Quail Springs.

I've travelled I-40 from one end to the other. I will say I-40 through OKC is probably the second most interesting urban stretch, with the most interesting being through Albuquerque. The new crosstown is definitely impressive and gives a more urban feel to passers through, as urban as freeways can be I guess. What OKC needs is a light rail line connecting downtown with Norman and with Quail Springs.

light rail, no
commuter rail, yes

light rail, no
commuter rail, yesOkay this is probably a stupid question, but, what is the difference?

Don't take this the wrong way but Google is an amazing thing -- try it: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHVQ_enUS507US507&ion=1&ie=UTF-8#hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&rlz=1C1CHVQ_enUS507US507&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=light%20rail%20vs%20commuter%20rail&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&fp=1&bpcl=38625945&ion=1&biw=1366&bih=653&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&cad=b

I found this in the top three results: Comparison of 'Rail' transit modes (http://www.trainweb.org/kenrail/Rail_mode_defined.html)No your right. I'm just lazy sometimes. lol :)

Don't take this the wrong way but Google is an amazing thing -- try it: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHVQ_enUS507US507&ion=1&ie=UTF-8#hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&rlz=1C1CHVQ_enUS507US507&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=light%20rail%20vs%20commuter%20rail&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&fp=1&bpcl=38625945&ion=1&biw=1366&bih=653&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&cad=b

I found this in the top three results: Comparison of 'Rail' transit modes (http://www.trainweb.org/kenrail/Rail_mode_defined.html)

Sid, you'll find this useful. (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Let+me+Google+that+for+you)

The cost of the bridge and structure combined was actually $12.8 million, according to NewsOK. Nevertheless, I love it!

"The estimate for the cost of the bridge was about $5.2 million, well under the $6.8 million budget. But unexpected problems pushed the cost estimate to $12.8 million as architects were working on finalizing the design, city officials said."

Read more: Skydance Bridge to be redesigned | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/skydance-bridge-to-be-redesigned/article/3508495#ixzz2CNS3Mnkq)

the 12.8 mil was before the redesign

The cost of the bridge and structure combined was actually $12.8 million, according to NewsOK. Nevertheless, I love it!

"The estimate for the cost of the bridge was about $5.2 million, well under the $6.8 million budget. But unexpected problems pushed the cost estimate to $12.8 million as architects were working on finalizing the design, city officials said."

Read more: Skydance Bridge to be redesigned | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/skydance-bridge-to-be-redesigned/article/3508495#ixzz2CNS3Mnkq)

That is the actual design that they will use? I do not know...I think I better see it in person if I like it or not

That is the actual design that they will use? I do not know...I think I better see it in person if I like it or not

That article is 2 years old, the re-designed bridge has been up and running since last Christmas.

I am still not sure about the cost as the redesign kept adding to the cost, not taking away from it. How they went from the reported $12.8 million down to $5.8 million they are saying it cost on the City's website (City of Oklahoma City | Public Information and Marketing (http://www.okc.gov/skybridge/index.html)) doesn't add up (or is it subtract down). Supposedly the only thing they cut were the then decorative cables. Could those have really cost $7 million???

I think the old design looks better.

Print it out and kiss it if you love it that much. It's in the past. Move on.

Print it out and kiss it if you love it that much. It's in the past. Move on.What is wrong with you? I just said I like the old one better. Thats all. I wasn't trying to make a big deal out of it. Sorry.

I'm just being facious lol. Maybe I need to adopt my old signature line again... take no offense ;-)

I'm just being facious lol. Maybe I need to adopt my old signature line again... take no offense ;-)Oh... my bad.

I just got this image of you printing a picture of the old skybridge and making out with it in my head. It was funny in my head. My bad too on my fingers not transferring the enthusiasm.

I just got this image of you printing a picture of the old skybridge and making out with it in my head. It was funny in my head. My bad too on my fingers not transferring the enthusiasm.Haha it is funny. So I print it out and make out with it. But, then. what if in 2 years the current design starts appealing to me better should I buy a portrait of the new one and make out with it? Secret love affair between me and 2 pictures of pedestrian bridge.lol ;)

I'm thinking if you're gonna make out with a photo, there are several Carl's Jr. ads you might possibly enjoy more.

I'm thinking if you're gonna make out with a photo, there are several Carl's Jr. ads you might possibly enjoy more.

Carl Jr's are disgusting! Bring back Hardee's!

They are the same burgers now, just with a different name. The Hardee's in Missouri are Carl's with the Hardee's name.

No they are not the same burgers, they tasted like **** while Hardee's tasted good

Think what he was saying is that while they used to be different, they are now the same.

Back to the bridge, they also cut the solid cladding and went with a more open "Erectorset-esque" "feathering", so maybe the cables and cladding subtracted down, still seems like a huge amount. The City has been known to fudge numbers on quite a few things over the decades.

No they are not the same burgers, they tasted like **** while Hardee's tasted good


Think what he was saying is that while they used to be different, they are now the same.
That was it, the Hardee's burgers have been "Carl'd". We stopped at a Hardee's in Missouri or Illinois on our 2007 F1 race trip in Indy, Hardee's is the same now that they are owned by Carl's. I agree the original Hardee's burgers were pretty good for fast food burgers. I always preferred the Double R Bar (Trigger) burger at Roy Roger's, I saw one in Alexandria, Virginia in 2001 but wasn't able to find out if it was still the same.

The last time we came through on I-40 at night was before it was opened (moving from Austin to Denver) and the bridge wasn't lit up yet. Never did go down I-40 at night when I was back for my reunion in June.

Carl Jr's are disgusting! Bring back Hardee's!

No wonder Carl Jr's is going out of business in some locations in Oklahoma, such as in Stillwater and Enid. On top of that, I bet plenty of women didn't care much for the scantily clad chick slowly eating a burger in their ads.

Carl Jr's are disgusting! Bring back Hardee's!

No wonder Carl Jr's is going out of business in some locations in Oklahoma, such as in Stillwater and Enid. On top of that, I bet plenty of women didn't care much for the scantily clad chick slowly eating a burger in their ads.

Hardee's struggled in OKC as well, mainly due to management/operations by a poor franchiser.

Is there a "drive thru" on the "new" i40??

there is no doubt the old design looked better. The current bridge only looks good after the sun goes down.