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LONE TREE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, A LANDMARK FOR THE CITY
UNIFYING A CITY
The new Lone Tree Pedestrian Bridge celebrates the reunification, both socially
and physically, of Lone Tree, Colorado’s north and south side communities. The
structure’s memorable form creates a major landmark for the City and establishes
a model for the city’s vision: a more easily accessible city with safe passages
for pedestrians. As a critical connection for Lone Tree’s pedestrian traffic,
the new bridge spans across the rapidly growing city’s busiest thoroughfare.
Lincoln Avenue, where over 90,000 cars travel daily, divides Lone Tree
Elementary and residential communities on the north from local retail,
workplaces, and open space parkland on the south.
CREATING A SAFE PASSAGE FOR CITIZENS
Prior to the creation of the bridge, school
children, residents, and local business workers
were contended with limited access across
Lincoln Avenue. Spanning 52 meters in length,
the pedestrian bridge allows children from the
adjacent elementary school to avoid Lincoln
Avenue’s traffic and safely access open space
parkland for scientific and ecology education.
Workers have access to ample eateries on the
south side, and runners and cyclists can access
a network of recreational trails unhindered.
HARMONIZING EFFICIENCY WITH ARTISTIC DESIGN
The core structure of the bridge – an asymmetric
cable stay – provides an efficiency of form. In
the design we focused on the sensitivities of
the cable and pylon geometry to harmonize
steel’s efficiency with an artistic design. The
pylon – a signature component of the bridge’s
design – is inspired by the City’s leaf emblem.
Its form is seen from many vantage points
throughout the City, creating a memorable image
for Lone Tree. The design team refined the pylon
leaf design while retaining structural
integrity. From the leaf, six pairs of cables
extend to the north to support the bridge. The
main pylon soars 31 meters above Lincoln Avenue,
creating a landmark across the City’s skyline as
people journey across the bridge and the
adjacent greenbelt trail system.
ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY
Stainless steel mesh on the sides of the bridge
and an ETFE roof protect bridge users from
severe weather while enabling one to enjoy open
air and sunlight on pleasant days. This
structure creates sheltered spaces along the
bridge’s path and serves as a community space
for the Lone Tree residents. The roof is
translucent to allow sunlight to illuminate the
bridge during the day and glows at night to
improve walkway visibility and safety. Ramps on
each end of the bridge facilitate accessible
design, multimodal access and connect students,
residents, and workers to amenities on both
sides.
Lone Tree’s civic pride has been instilled in
the new bridge by establishing a memorable
landmark in the heart of the community and
improved universal access and safety.
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