Park Union Bridge

PARK
UNION
BRIDGE

COLORADO
SPRINGS,
CO

Park Union Bridge provides a vital urban link for Colorado Springs, spanning over an active railyard that previously acted as a barrier. By extending the east-west axis of Vermijo Avenue to the America the Beautiful Park, the new pedestrian bridge reconnects the urban fabric of downtown Colorado Springs. The bridge also stitches together a growing network of pedestrian bicycle paths including the Pikes Peak Greenway and Midland Trail running alongside Monument Creek.

Designed by the same team as the adjacent U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum complex, the new pedestrian bridge takes its inspiration from the gravity-defying motion of athletes, with a 250-foot curved steel structure that floats above the railyard. Two interlocked loops, stretching from either side of the railyard, connect the museum and the park. DS+R Partner-in-Charge and Lead Designer Benjamin Gilmartin noted, “The bridge is an exercise in fitness - both in terms of material and geometry. The hybrid steel structure system functions as an arch and a truss, elegantly preserving views from Downtown to the majestic mountain ranges of Pikes Peak.”

The bridge’s generous width safely accommodates pedestrians and cyclists alike. At it’s widest point, an oculus at either side of the bridge frames the museum and downtown to the east, a platform for trainspotting below, and a distinct look out to the Rocky Mountain to the west. In the evenings, lighting along the bridge traces a single vector from one side of the tracks to the other, giving a sense of speed and motion while providing illumination for pedestrians and cyclists.

The prefabricated bridge was assembled in a staging area in Houston, Texas and a full fit-up was conducted in May 2020. The pieces were driven into place using self-propelled modular transporters over the course of a single weekend, minimizing outage for the rail lines and yard. As bridge sections were delivered, the bridge was assembled on the ground to weld each section together. Assembly of the bridge sections was completed at the end of June 2020. In October 2020, the bridge was hoisted and placed onto its abutments in its entirety in a carefully orchestrated process completed within an eight-hour window.

To view videos of the placement, including time lapse and drone footage, please visit DS+R's YouTube channel.

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Project information
ClientCity of Colorado Springs LocationColorado Springs, US
Milestones
Placement onto bridge abutments5th October 2020Commission2014completed1st July 2021
Credits
PartnersBenjamin Gilmartin,Elizabeth Diller,Ricardo Scofidio,and Charles Renfro
Project LeadersHolly Deichmann and Merica May Jensen
DesignersYushiro Okamoto and Ryan Botts
External credits
Anderson Mason DaleExecutive Architect
ArupStructural Engineer
KL&AStructural Engineer (Bridge Abutments)
KING FabricationSteel Fabricator
Kiewit ConstructionGeneral Contractor
Tillotson DesignLighting Consultant
Felsburg Holt & UllevigRailroad Consultant
FUHuengRailroad Consultant
TerraconOnsite Inspector
    Photography by Jason O'Rear,Iwan Baan,Jason O' Rear,and Jaosn O'Rear