The Journal Record
By Brian Brus
Oklahoma City reporter - Contact 405-278-2837
Posted: 10:22 AM Tuesday, June 21, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Council members expressed concern Tuesday morning that construction across the new Interstate 40 near downtown might appear to be a “bridge to nowhere” as Core to Shore development projects are scheduled.
The council unanimously approved putting out for bids the Skydance Bridge structure and adjoining sculpture pieces planned near SW Ninth Street and Harvey Avenue. If the project proceeds according to schedule, construction is expected to begin in August and the full bridge will be completed by the end of April.
A pedestrian bridge was required by the Federal Highway Administration as part of the funding received for moving the I-40 Crosstown closer to the Oklahoma River. Since the project was initially announced three years ago, the overall cost has risen to about $12.8 million while some design elements of the bridge have been simplified in response to the economic downturn.
With long spires reminiscent of a scissor-tailed flycatcher bird, the 18-story-tall bridge is expected to be one of the most visible elements of extensive redevelopment of 750 acres between the downtown district and the river, referred to as the Core to Shore area. City leaders scheduled its construction to coincide with the opening of the new I-40.
At the same time, however, $777 million in major infrastructure projects will be in play under the MAPS 3 temporary sales tax, including the construction of a larger convention center, a 70-acre park and downtown rail transportation that will be the first phase of a larger metro-wide mass transit system. Some of those projects will involve the Core to Shore area – the park, for example, will abut the new boulevard created when the current I-40 is razed. City leaders and the public oversight committees they’ve created have been arguing over the order of those projects lately, because each must be supported by tax collections before they can begin... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Tue, June 21, 2011
by John Cox