Proposed bridge over I-40 promises to catch eyes

By Steve Lackmeyer

Published: September 9, 2008

A proposed 18-story-tall "SkyDance Bridge” could span the new Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway pending Oklahoma City Council approval of designs chosen in an unprecedented competition.

Laura Story, assistant city engineer with the city, confirmed Monday the competition was a first for Oklahoma City and attracted firms that designed the Sydney Opera House and Boston's Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge. The winning team is led by Hans Butzer, who designed the Oklahoma City National Memorial, and Stan Carroll, who has won accolades for his work with metal sculptures and architecture.

"Bridge architecture is one of the great building types out there,” Carroll said. "My whole life I've really wished I could design a bridge.”

Butzer cautioned against drawing comparisons between the iconic memorial and the proposed I-40 bridge.

"Hopefully, we'll never have to build another memorial,” Butzer said.

"But I'd like to see the city commissioning more bridges like this. Just look at the Thunder coming to Ford Center. You can't place a value on pride,” he said.

The designers hope the bridge, which will link two parks proposed as part of Core to Shore redevelopment, will be a destination, as well as a pathway. They envision it as a place where couples will share their first kiss in its shadows while long-lost friends will choose to meet at its bend. They hope marathon runners will raise their arms in victory while passing under its wings.

The design calls for two lighting systems — traditional up-lighting that would show off the bridge at night, and a translucent material on the faces of the bridge sculpture wings that would cause them to glow from within.

Mayor Mick Cornett said he's happy with all the submittals but cautioned he would like to add Oklahoma City's name.

"The people who are going to see this bridge are those who have already decided not to stop in this city,” Cornett said. "And maybe after seeing this, the next time through they will stop.”

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