Skydance Bridge
{{Short description|Pedestrian bridge and public artwork in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox bridge
| name = Skydance Bridge
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| image = Oklahoma Skydance Bridge in 2019.jpg
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption = The bridge in 2019
| coordinates = {{coord|35.45650|-97.51742|format=dms|type:landmark_region:US-OK|display=inline,title}}
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| carries = {{Flatlist|
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| crosses = {{plainlist|
| locale = Downtown Oklahoma City
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| official_name =
| other_name = {{plainlist|
- Skydance Pedestrian Bridge
- Scissortail Bridge}}
| named_for = Scissor-tailed flycatcher
| owner = City of Oklahoma City
| maint = Oklahoma Department of Transportation
| website = {{official website|https://www.okc.gov/departments/public-works/resident-community-resources/skydance-bridge}}
| design = Truss bridge
| material = {{plainlist|
- Stainless Steel
- Wood (2012–2019)
- Fiberglass (2019–present)}}
| length = 380 feet
| width = 20 feet
| height = 192 feet
| architect = MKEC Engineering Consultants Inc.
| designer = S-X-L
| contracted_designer =
| winner = Butzer Design
| builder = Manhattan Road & Bridge Co.
| begin = August 2011
| complete = April 2012
| cost = $6.8 million
| open = April 23, 2012
| inaugurated = April 23, 2012
| rebuilt =
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The Skydance Bridge (oftentimes called the Skydance Pedestrian Bridge or Scissortail Bridge) is a pedestrian bridge and public artwork in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.okc.gov/departments/public-works/resident-community-resources/skydance-bridge|title=Skydance Bridge {{!}} City of OKC|work=City of Oklahoma City|access-date=June 27, 2019}}
History and design
On May 15, 2002, the United States Department of Transportation approved a plan for the Oklahoma City Crosstown realignment. Included in the plan was the requirement that the city build a pedestrian bridge to cross Interstate 40.{{cite web|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/2793208/road-to-tomorrow-at-last-i-40-reroute-nears-start-date|title=Road to Tomorrow At Last, I-40 Reroute Nears Start Date|date=May 15, 2002|accessdate=December 15, 2019|work=The Oklahoman}}{{cite web|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3625770/skydance-bridge-about-to-rise-up-in-oklahoma-city|title=Skydance Bridge about to rise up in Oklahoma City|last=Kimball|first=Michael|date=November 23, 2011|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=The Oklahoman}} In 2008, Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett announced a design competition for the bridge.{{cite web|url=https://www.visitokc.com/about-okc/okc-facts/|title=OKC FACTS & HISTORY|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=Visit OKC}} Architects Hans and Torrey Butzer conceived of the bridge as being inspired by the mating dance of the scissor-tailed flycatcher, Oklahoma's state bird.{{cite web | url=http://butzerarchitects.com/skydance-bridge-2 | title=Skydance Bridge }}{{Cite web|last=Pike|first=Hannah|date=February 25, 2019|title=Award-winning OU architecture dean balances teaching, design|url=http://www.oudaily.com/news/award-winning-ou-architecture-dean-balances-teaching-designing/article_fb6fcfae-ea9d-11e6-b1b6-df971343d777.html|website=OU Daily}}{{cite web|last=Manwarren|first=Leigh|title=SkyDance Bridge Design|url=http://www.ou.edu/coe/fears/structural_faculty/chris_ramseyer/skydance_bridge|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=University of Oklahoma College of Engineering}} The double-winged structure would be a sculptural landmark and provide support to a pedestrian deck that connects two portions of Oklahoma City's Scissortail Park. The concept was developed into the competition-winning design by Hans Butzer, Stan Carroll, Ken Fitzsimmons, Jeremy Gardner, Bret Johnston, Laurent Massenat, Chris Ramseyer, and David Wanzer in collaboration with MKEC Inc.{{Cite web|last1=Ramseyer|first1=Chris|last2=Butzer|first2=Hans|title=Reaching for the Sky|url=https://www.structuremag.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/D-Spotlight-Sept141.pdf|access-date=February 25, 2021|website=Structure Magazine}}
The location of the bridge was chosen as part of the "Core to Shore" initiative, which was intended to connect the core of downtown Oklahoma City to the shore of the Oklahoma River. An urban park was in the early stages of planning in the same area as part of the MAPS 3 project; the bridge connects the park's upper and lower portions.{{cite web|url=http://butzerarchitects.com/skydance-bridge-2|title=Skydance Bridge|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=Butzer Architects and Urbanism}}
The city allocated a budget of $6.8 million. The cost was originally estimated to be around $5.2 million, but unexpected problems pushed the estimate to $12.8 million.{{cite web|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3508495/skydance-bridge-to-be-redesigned|title=Skydance Bridge to be redesigned|last=Dean|first=Bryan|date=October 27, 2010|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=The Oklahoman}} To lower costs, part of the bridge was redesigned, including the elimination of large cables originally intended to stretch from the top of the bird design to the base of the bridge. Construction was originally expected to run from March to November 2011, but due to the cost issues construction did not begin until August 2011. It was constructed at the same time as the new Interstate 40.{{cite web|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3579184/skydance-bridge-construction-in-okc-set-for-august-start|title=Skydance Bridge construction in OKC set for August start|date=June 22, 2011|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=The Oklahoman}}
The Manhattan Road & Bridge Company built the 380-feet long, 192-feet tall, 20-feet wide bridge.{{cite web|url=https://www.enr.com/articles/12843-award-of-merit-transportation-oklahoma-city-skydance-bridge|title=Award of Merit, Transportation: Oklahoma City Skydance Bridge|date=December 12, 2012|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=Engineering News-Record}} The bird sculpture was completed in December 2011, and construction was finished in April 2012.{{cite web|url=https://blog.americansforthearts.org/by-program/networks-and-councils/public-art-network/public-art-year-in-review-database/skydance-bridge|title=SKYDANCE BRIDGE|date=May 15, 2019|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=Americans for the Arts}} The bridge officially opened on April 23, 2012, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony which included appearances by design architects and public officials.{{cite web|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3685592/oklahoma-city-skydance-bridge-is-one-of-nations-top-50-public-arts-projects|title=Oklahoma City SkyDance Bridge is one of nation's top 50 public arts projects|last=Ingle Oingle|first=Olivia|date=June 19, 2012|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=The Oklahoman}} The design includes fully programmable energy efficient LED lights that illuminate the bridge from dusk to dawn.{{cite web|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3669266/skydance-bridge-opens-to-pedestrians-lights-up-night|title=Skydance bridge opens to pedestrians, lights up night|date=April 24, 2012|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=The Oklahoman}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news9.com/story/17664922/skydance-bridge-unveiled-in-oklahoma-city-on-monday|title=SkyDance Bridge Officially Unveiled In Oklahoma City|date=April 23, 2012|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=KWTV}}
In June 2019, city leaders approved a $840,000 repair project on the bridge to replace the wood deck, which had reached its lifespan. It was replaced with a composite fiberglass deck and underwent construction from summer 2019 through summer 2020.{{cite web|url=https://kfor.com/2019/06/19/city-leaders-approve-plan-to-repair-skydance-bridge/|title=City leaders approve plan to repair Skydance Bridge|last=Querry|first=K.|date=June 19, 2019|accessdate=December 25, 2019|work=KFOR-TV}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news9.com/story/5ec5a1982ac80d591f261c24/skydance-bridge-repairs-could-last-until-summer|title=Skydance Bridge Repairs Could Last Until Summer|last=Torp|first=Kari|date=February 6, 2020|accessdate=December 17, 2020|work=KWTV-DT}}
Reception
In 2012, the structure was named one of the 50 best public art projects in the United States by the Americans for the Arts' "Public Art Network Year in Review".{{Cite web|url=http://www.news9.com/story/18813563/sky|title=SkyDance Bridge In OKC One Of Nation's Top 50 Public Art Projects|work=KWTV|language=en|date=June 18, 2012|access-date=June 27, 2019}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|SkyDance Bridge}}
- [https://culturenow.org/entry&permalink=15437&seo=SkyDance-Bridge_Stan-Carroll-Butzer-Gardner-Architects-and-City-of-Oklahoma-City-Public-Art SkyDance Bridge] at cultureNOW
{{Public art in Oklahoma City}}
{{Portal bar|Engineering|Oklahoma|Transport|Visual arts}}
Category:2012 establishments in Oklahoma
Category:Bridges completed in 2012
Category:Buildings and structures in Oklahoma City
Category:Outdoor sculptures in Oklahoma City
Category:Pedestrian bridges in the United States