I know we've talked about bridges on the Oklahoma River for pedestrians. I saw this article about a park in San Mateo and I think it represents, in theme, what I was envisioning for the river. Bridges that, while very functional, also make an aesthetic statement and create landmarks that become attractions in and of themselves. Obviously, the Oklahoma river span is a bit bigger, but I think a series of fairly low key, yet graceful bridges, like this would really give the area a cohesive look and elevate its destination status.

Bridging design and function; Architecture of redone park invites citizens to the bay (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/02/BAGBRGULN778.DTL)


With the eastern span of the Bay Bridge at least seven more years from completion, it's nice to know a bridge can rise promptly in the region -- at least a 40-yard-long footbridge in San Mateo.

In fact, it took less than a day to erect the steel arch that loops through the air near the spot in Ryder Park where San Mateo Creek enters San Francisco Bay.

But speed isn't the only reason to celebrate the recent completion of the San Mateo span. It is a bridge of pure functional elegance that is memorable without being self-indulgent. It also reminds us that public works projects don't need to play it safe. They can be distinctive as well as utilitarian, accenting the landscape in a way that makes it look even better.

http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2006/02/02/ba_mateobridge01_011.jpg

http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2006/02/02/ba_mateobridge01_002.jpg

Good post, have you seen the renderings of the Oklahoma River pedestrian bridges, they are nice! Much nicer than these San Mateo ones, they even include green spaces on the actual bridge

whoa.

No I haven't. That sounds great. I'll have to track some of those down. Is there money for them or are they just proposed at this point?

I like that they sound more ambitious than the San Mateo one. The green spaces sound very cool.

metro, do you have any renderings that you could post? I don't think I have ever seen them either

Here you guys go. I posted this in a prior thread. There are more "New Crosstown" pics in that thread.

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/public-info/i40-okc/pictures/I40-Relocation-Land-Use.jpg

Great to hear pedestrian bridges will be built across the river. I was afraid the only bridges would be the street bridges. I think what makes the Arkansas River special near downtown Tulsa is their old railroad bridge which is now used as a pedestrian bridge. We shouldn't copy, but we should include several nice bridges spanning across our river.

Here's the link to the ODOT page that contains all of the images.

Crosstown Images (http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/public-info/i40-okc/pictures/)

^ Wait, that's the design for the bridge over I-40 (it even says so). Is this what you are talking about metro? Are the pedestrian bridges similarly proposed, or different altogether? We are talking about bridges over the river itself.

I noticed there are piers adjacent to the Robinson Avenue bridge on the east side. It looks like widening project to me; could this be what we're talking about?

Yeah, floater, we were talking about pedestrian bridges over the river. Decious must be a little confused here.

Yeah, floater, we were talking about pedestrian bridges over the river. Decious must be a little confused here.
Too bad if they are not like that. We'll see later I guess.

They won't get built. just something else that will get shelved.

In terms of activities along the river, it'd be cool to have something like this:

http://www.chelseapiers.com/

Not with piers, of course, but along the trails. The river master planned indicated a "Sports Complex" on the site of the Dell facility. I wonder if river planners are relocating that use.

Yeah, floater, we were talking about pedestrian bridges over the river. Decious must be a little confused here.

:Smiley078 TOTALLY missed it. Ignore my 2 useless posts. I'd like to see those pics though.

Although those bridges are nice, still nothing special IMO. I would much rather see some kind of suspension bridge like shown in the first pictures. Maybe combining the two, to have the suspension cables and green spaces. But IMO, I think to impress people, most outsiders aren't going to be walking across them just seeing them as they drive by, so it would be much cooler to have the suspension bridge.

Really wish they would incorporate some kind of BIG element into the bridges over the new I-40

similarly proposed


Wait, that's the design for the bridge over I-40 (it even says so). Is this what you are talking about metro? Are the pedestrian bridges similarly proposed, or different altogether?

Since our city now has the largest single collection of Chihuly glass, perhaps we can get a little bit of help from our friend with the project. He does nice work on public projects like this and it would draw visitors to the bridge/s.

http://www.chihuly.com/bridgeofglass/projectdescription.html

Since our city now has the largest single collection of Chihuly glass, perhaps we can get a little bit of help from our friend with the project. He does nice work on public projects like this and it would draw visitors to the bridge/s.

http://www.chihuly.com/bridgeofglass/projectdescription.html

Pretty cool. I like this thinking. Why be conventional?

John, Indeed you are on the right track!

John, I would DIE if they brought something like that! I love the Chiluly exhibit.. I could watch that video forever and I could see those glass blown sculptures for hours.. they are so fascinating.

Did anyone see what this masterpeice of a bridge cost?

I definately like the walkways in that rendering. It's hard to tell what the bridge would like like from the water, but I agree with Nuclear's point. It would be nice to see the bridge structure itself be of design that creates a landmark. I think it is an opportunity to put a new face on the city itself.

I really don't think it's impossible. I think the $$$ will be there if it's put forth. MAPS III money and private contributions could make it happen. Oklahoma Citians have shown they will support something if it enhances our quality of life and reputation.

I know I would love to live on the river if I could cross that bridge every day.

Though not as colorful as Chihuly's feast for the eye in Tacoma, Spanish Architect Santiago Clatrava has designed some wonderful bridges including one spanning the river that fronts the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Take the bridge slide show tour on this site. http://www.calatrava.com/

Also, I am a proponent of using local design talent in these matters and we have a lot of artistic and architectural talent in Oklahoma City. Bridges on the Oklahoma River would be a great way to showcase Oklahoma talent.

I am a huge fan of Santiago Calatrava. I had to do a report about him in college. My favorite bridge (the Alamillo) is in Seville, Spain. It has a single mast, and cables only on one side. The mast itself is the counter balance for the bridge deck. I also love the twisted skyscraper he designed after one of his sculptures called "Turning Torso"

I think he is doing several bridges over the Trinity River in Dallas now. I hate to say it, but if he did something here, it would seem like we are copying them, but I would still like to see it happen.

I also love the twisted skyscraper he designed after one of his sculptures called "Turning Torso"


It's pretty cool:

http://www.diepresse.com/upload/20050824/torso1.jpg

How about a "Bending Back" along the banks of the Oklahoma River? hehe

Santiago Calatrava's bridges are cool, I especially like the ones he built all across the Ireland I believe...However, his bridges are nothing way out of the ordinary. I think a local firm, maybe TAP or Studio could probably come up with some pretty awesome bridge designs.

As I said before, we just need something that is going to stand out when people see it...building unique bridges across the city could just as easily be a "monument" for people to remember the city by as the big indian...

Don't know if you guys have seen this, but TAP has this rendering about an idea for the new I-40 overpasses -- not pedestrian but shows the city is giving thought to creating some architectural interest:

http://mysite.verizon.net/res17zef/tap.jpg

I am a huge fan of Santiago Calatrava. I had to do a report about him in college. My favorite bridge (the Alamillo) is in Seville, Spain. It has a single mast, and cables only on one side. The mast itself is the counter balance for the bridge deck.

I saw the Seville bridge you are talking about. If I'm not mistaken, it is one of two bridges proposed. The other being upstream and a mirror image; thus when viewed together they would present the complete idea. Unfortunately, the second bridge was never built; budget problems.

While in Spain in 1995, I also saw a lot of Gaudi's work, mostly in Barcelona. Some of Chiluy's work in glass makes me think of Gaudi's twisting curvasous glazed tile clad structures. Spain has a long tradition of contemporary architecture. Across the street from Gaudi's Casa Mia in Barcelona, are three or four buildings by other architects that exhibit the same free spirited style.

Don't know if you guys have seen this, but TAP has this rendering about an idea for the new I-40 overpasses -- not pedestrian but shows the city is giving thought to creating some architectural interest:

http://mysite.verizon.net/res17zef/tap.jpg

I hope they go through with the art on the overpasses, some detractors were saying that it would distract drivers :rolleyes:, but they might want to redo the theme for the Western bridge, as the downtown airport is no longer.

some detractors were saying that it would distract drivers

As if anyone on I-40 is paying attention anyway.

I'm not sure what kind of distraction it would be anyway. People driving through cities usually have much more to distract them than they will on this sunken throughfare. Even if there are no landmarks, there's usually billboards whose entire point is to distract the driver.

Even if there are no landmarks, there's usually billboards whose entire point is to distract the driver.

Fortunately, as a result of reccomendations by the I-40 Enhancement Steering Committee and some diligent effort by Oklahoma City Beautiful, no billboards are being permitted along much of the new I-40 corridor.

Those overpasses would be cool, however, the only thing I would change in that picture... LANDSCAPING!!! Why the hell can't OKC plant tons of trees and bushes along the side of the highway, like TX has done on the George Bush in Dallas. It's not like there would be that much to landscape anyway, that grass area looks about 5' wide and it would be for 5 miles or so.