BP Pedestrian Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BP Pedestrian Bridge |
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The BP Bridge viewed from The Buckingham in Lakeshore East (June 12, 2008)
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| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Crosses | Columbus Drive |
| Locale | Chicago, Illinois (Cook County) United States |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | girder bridge |
| Material | stainless steel, reinforced concrete, and hardwood |
| Total length | 935 feet (285.0 m) |
| Width | 20 feet (6.1 m) |
| Clearance below | 14 feet 6 inches (4.4 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Frank Gehry |
| Construction end | May 22, 2004 |
| Opened | July 16, 2004 |
The BP Pedestrian Bridge, or simply BP Bridge, is a special footbridge in Chicago, Illinois. It connects Grant Park with Millennium Park. This bridge was designed by Frank Gehry, a very famous architect. It opened on July 16, 2004, at the same time as Millennium Park.
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A Bridge Like No Other
The BP Bridge is not just any bridge. It's known for its unique and artistic design. It looks like a long, curving ribbon. This design helps it stand out in the city.
Who Designed This Cool Bridge?
The bridge was designed by Frank Gehry. He is a world-famous architect. Gehry is known for his buildings with unusual shapes. He often uses curving metal surfaces. He also designed the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.
What Is It Made Of?
The BP Bridge is built from strong materials. It uses stainless steel plates for its outer look. It also has reinforced concrete and hardwood for its structure. These materials make the bridge very sturdy.
Connecting Parks and More
The main job of the BP Bridge is to connect two big parks. It links Grant Park with Millennium Park. This makes it easy for people to walk between them.
A Quiet Walkway
The bridge crosses over Columbus Drive. This is a busy street. The bridge's design helps block out the noise from the traffic below. This makes walking on the bridge a peaceful experience.
Unique Features
Instead of regular handrails, the BP Bridge has high walls called parapets. These walls are part of its unique look. They also have lights built into them. These lights make the bridge glow at night.
Images for kids
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Gehry designed both the bridge and Jay Pritzker Pavilion with curving stainless steel plates.
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The bridge is a noise barrier along the eastern edge of Millennium Park, with the Historic Michigan Boulevard District in the background.
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Crossing Columbus Drive, the bridge is supported by a central concrete column. (from Randolph Street)
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Pictured: The stainless steel plates comprising the bridge's exterior
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Instead of handrails, the BP Bridge uses parapets (with lights for illumination at night).
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See also
In Spanish: Puente BP para niños
