Margaret McDermott Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Margaret McDermott Bridge |
|
|---|---|
The Margaret McDermott Bridge in Dallas as seen in March 2020
|
|
| Coordinates | 32°46′13.4″N 96°49′06.6″W / 32.770389°N 96.818500°W |
| Carries |  I-30, pedestrians, bicycles |
| Crosses | Trinity River |
| Locale | Dallas, Texas |
| Owner | TxDOT |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable-stayed bridge with suspended arches |
| Material | Steel, Concrete |
| Height | 340.0 feet (103.6 m) |
| Longest span | 1,125.0 feet (342.9 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Santiago Calatrava, in part |
| Constructed by | American Bridge Co. |
| Fabrication by | Tampa Steel Erecting Company |
| Construction begin | 2012 |
| Construction end | 2017 |
| Construction cost | $100 million+ |
| Opened | 2013 |
| Replaces | Interstate 30 Trinity River Bridge |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | None |
The Margaret McDermott Bridge is a special bridge in Dallas, Texas. It crosses the Trinity River. This bridge has a main part made of concrete for cars. It also has unique cable-stayed paths for bikes and people walking.
The bridge was built to replace an older bridge from the 1950s and 1960s. That old bridge carried I-30 traffic. The Margaret McDermott Bridge was partly designed by Santiago Calatrava. He is a famous architect. The bridge is also part of bigger city projects called the Trinity River Project and the Horseshoe Project. It is named after Margaret McDermott, who was a kind person who gave money to help her community.
Contents
Building the Margaret McDermott Bridge
The Margaret McDermott Bridge was one of three new bridges planned for the Trinity River. These bridges were designed by Santiago Calatrava. However, plans for the McDermott Bridge were changed to be smaller. A third bridge for I-35E was also canceled. This happened because there wasn't enough money.
Another bridge, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, started being built in 2005. It opened in 2012. The Margaret McDermott Bridge was meant to replace the old I-30 bridge. Construction was supposed to start in 2011 and finish by 2014.
Construction Begins and Changes
Later, in 2011, money for the bridge came from a different project. Building contracts were given out in mid-2012. The new plan still included Calatrava's design. But some parts of the original arch design were made simpler.
Construction on the bridge finally began in 2012. It cost over $200 million. The special arched paths for walking and biking cost $115 million. The main part of the bridge for cars cost an extra $120 million.
Opening and Challenges
The main concrete part of the bridge opened for I-30 traffic in 2013. The steel arches are about 1,200-foot-long (370 m). They are separate from the concrete part. These arches hold the paths for people and bikes.
In 2014, the bases for the arches were built. Steel parts were made in Florida. The main builder, American Bridge, expected the steel to arrive in Dallas in late 2014. The steel arches were finished in 2017. The whole bridge was planned to open by the end of that year.
Problems with the Pedestrian Paths
Even though the car part of the bridge was open, the arched paths for walking and biking stayed closed. This was because of problems with the cables. These cables connect the arch to the base of the paths. They would vibrate a lot in strong winds.
This vibration caused stress on the cables. Some parts that held the cables broke. The stress also caused cracks in the bridges. Rods that held the cables twisted and broke. The small size of these rods put more stress on them.
Finding Solutions
There was a big disagreement about these problems. Calatrava said the builder didn't test enough and used the wrong parts. State transportation officials blamed Calatrava and the city of Dallas. Because of these issues, and needing more painting and lights, there was no date for the paths to open.
In April 2019, the Dallas City Council approved a plan to fix the bridge. This repair was expected to cost over $7 million and take more than three years. The problems with the arched paths led to a dispute between the City, TxDOT, and the engineering company. In January 2021, news reports said the bridge might open for walkers and bikers by the end of that year.
Bridge Design
The Margaret McDermott Bridge has a main concrete part. This part carries 10 lanes of I-30 traffic. It also has a special lane for cars with many people. Plus, there are four lanes for local roads next to the highway. The main part of the bridge spans 1,125 feet (343 m).
The bridge also has two tall, decorative steel arches. These arches are both about 350 feet (110 m) high. Inside these arches are the paths for bicycles and people walking.
Images for kids
-
Margaret McDermott Bridge Under Construction as seen from Reunion Tower in July 2016
