New I-244 Bridge

[SXSW]

If that is the case, is there really any long-term viable purpose served by leaving it standing, other than the long-shot hope that a pot of gold will come along that will pay to preserve it for some purpose?  I understand its place in the pantheon of Avery Rt. 66 lore and I love old stuff, but at some point it's just a concrete and rebar reminder of how we don't take care of things very well.

I would think its historic status would qualify it for some kind of grant to fix it up, but maybe not.  The only hope I see is that once the Route 66 museum is built (likely 3-4 years from now) that by then there will be more interest in the area, and subsequently more interest to rehabilitate the bridge.  I think it will take a combination of an historic landmark grant and help from the Kaiser Foundation (or something similar) to ever get it fixed up. 

[waterboy]

Sounds like its a goner. Maybe we should just take off the top and leave the arches.

[Vision 2025]

Sounds like its a goner. Maybe we should just take off the top and leave the arches.

You're not the first to suggest this.  The arches are in better shape than the deck.  Still tremendously expensive as it would have to be worked from the river bed or adjacent bridge.

[Vision 2025]

I would think its historic status would qualify it for some kind of grant to fix it up, but maybe not.  The only hope I see is that once the Route 66 museum is built (likely 3-4 years from now) that by then there will be more interest in the area, and subsequently more interest to rehabilitate the bridge.  I think it will take a combination of an historic landmark grant and help from the Kaiser Foundation (or something similar) to ever get it fixed up. 

Unfortunately, there are few really significant HP grants available for something like this.  Most HP projects get a boost from tax credit financing.  Where the HP resource is owned by the public the tax credit help gets watered down significantly because since municipalities don't pay federal income tax you have to market (sell) the credits.  It is complicated and expensive often consuming half of the face value of the credits.

[Townsend]

Groundbreaking Set for I-244 Multi-Modal Bridge

A groundbreaking will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, April 15, to kick off construction of a new multi-modal bridge spanning the Arkansas River on westbound I-244 in Tulsa. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the City of Tulsa will turn ceremonial dirt at the parking lot adjacent to the skybridge over Riverside Drive at Southwest Boulevard. The skybridge leads to the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Centennial Plaza.

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission has approved a contract with Manhattan Road and Bridge Co. to replace this structurally deficient bridge with a double-decker bridge. The cost of construction is $64 million; the cost of construction time is $14 million, bringing the total bid to $78 million. Work is expected to begin in mid-spring 2011, and the project is scheduled to be complete in two years.

The new structure will incorporate highway lanes on the top side, with two dedicated future rail lines and an area for bicycle and pedestrian traffic underneath. The project cost is a combination of federal funds, including a nearly $50 million federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant in February 2010. This grant cycle was extremely competitive, with more than 1,400 applications submitted nationwide. The I-244 multi-modal bridge is considered one of the top projects in the country to receive this funding.

The existing westbound I-244 bridge will be removed and the new bridge built along the current alignment. During construction westbound traffic will detour onto the eastbound I-244 bridge which will accommodate two-way traffic. The existing eastbound bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2013, although the $30 million estimated project cost is not fully funded at this time

http://www.cityoftulsa.org//enews/2011/4-13-11/i-244.aspx?utm_source=eNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=4-13-11

[SXSW]

Any better renderings out there?  Besides that one that has been posted that looks like more of a diagram showing how a multi-modal bridge works.

[BKDotCom]

Any better renderings out there?  Besides that one that has been posted that looks like more of a diagram showing how a multi-modal bridge works.

I've never read anything that indicates we're getting anything more than said textbook diagram / "rendering".    Just maybe all the textbooks can be updated and show Tulsa's new bridge as an example of the most basic, form follows function, bridge for bridgemaking 101.

Boring:  yes.
Ugly: yes
Spans the river:  yes

[SXSW]

I've never read anything that indicates we're getting anything more than said textbook diagram / "rendering".    Just maybe all the textbooks can be updated and show Tulsa's new bridge as an example of the most basic, form follows function, bridge for bridgemaking 101.

Boring:  yes.
Ugly: yes
Spans the river:  yes

Maybe.  Still curious about GKFF's involvement in the design of this bridge.  I know they hired an architect but haven't heard anything else, which makes me believe we haven't seen the real renderings yet.  GKFF is also funding the additional design work for the I-44 expansion.

This new bridge in Portland is the same type as I-244 with roadway above and rail lines & bike/ped path below.  Fairly utilitarian but still pretty nice.

[stageidea]

I know it is simple but I know I would be happy with that if they built something similar here. 
It would be better certainly with some cool lighting at night.  I think it would look pretty nice compared to what we have now.  

[SXSW]

I know it is simple but I know I would be happy with that if they built something similar here. 
It would be better certainly with some cool lighting at night.  I think it would look pretty nice compared to what we have now.  

It's basically the same set-up, just with exposed V bracing (something the final design will likely have to support the roadway above) and a little style for their bridge column supports and bike/ped path.  Little things like the detailing on the rails would make a big difference.  That is where the architect comes in and takes ODOT's utilitarian "design" and add some pizzazz, at least that's the hope..

[YoungTulsan]

A few things:

This bridge will only be for Westbound 244, the eastbound bridge will remain - and although it is scheduled for replacement as well, the funds are not yet there?

The multi-modal use includes pedestrian crossing & "future rail" - Does this mean that the old rail bridge will remain?

Would have been awesome if we could have replaced all 4 bridges (rail, EB244, WB244, 11th street) with one.

[sgrizzle]

A few things:

This bridge will only be for Westbound 244, the eastbound bridge will remain - and although it is scheduled for replacement as well, the funds are not yet there?

The multi-modal use includes pedestrian crossing & "future rail" - Does this mean that the old rail bridge will remain?

Would have been awesome if we could have replaced all 4 bridges (rail, EB244, WB244, 11th street) with one.

This bridge only got funded because it is multi-modal, so.. no funding for the other bridge.

The existing rail bridge remains as this is for two additional passenger rail lines, not replacing the freight rail.

[swake]

This bridge only got funded because it is multi-modal, so.. no funding for the other bridge.

The existing rail bridge remains as this is for two additional passenger rail lines, not replacing the freight rail.

ODOT does have the other replacement bridge on it's schedule as part of it's normal funding after this bridge is completed.

[BKDotCom]

Our Bridge diagram is coming closer to reality

[Townsend]

Our Bridge diagram is coming closer to reality

Anyone friends enough with the Mayor to tell him about his hair?