Trinity Bridges
The TxDOT Trinity Parkway Corridor MTIS recommended solutions to the Canyon/Mixmaster congestion. TxDOT also identified the need to replace the IH-30 bridge over 15 years ago and IH-35E bridges approximately four years ago, through their Bridge Inventory Inspection and Appraisal Program. The City of Dallas 1998 Capital Bond Program for the Trinity River Corridor included partial funds for the Woodall Rodgers Extension across the Trinity River and for the Trinity Parkway, which could also include two new bridges within the Dallas Floodway if a split couplet/riverside alignment is chosen. These events create an extraordinary opportunity for the City of Dallas to orchestrate and unify the design of five major bridges across the Trinity River Corridor.
On June 23, 1999, Dallas City Council authorized support of the concept of "signature bridges" and design enhancements for bridges across the Trinity River. The City Council also authorized the pursuit of cooperative assistance from other agencies and the identification of funding sources for these enhanced design features.
In November 1999, the Regional Transportation Council/Texas Transportation Commission Partnership approved $30 million in funding for the Woodall Rodgers Extension. Through the generosity of private citizens and charitable foundations, donations totaling more than $5 million have been raised to fund the signature design of the Woodall Rodgers Extension Bridge. City Council awarded a design contract to world-renowned bridge designer Santiago Calatrava in January 2002.
In February 2005, Hunt Petroleum Company of Dallas generously donated $12 million to the Trinity River Corridor Project. The City of Dallas in turn granted them naming rights to the Woodall Rodgers Extension Bridge. It is now named the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, in honor of the matriarch of the Hunt family.
Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge (formerly Woodall Rodgers Bridge)
The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge (formerly the Woodall Rodgers Extension Bridge) is potentially the first major signature bridge to be constructed across the Trinity River Corridor. The structure will be located between the Continental Avenue and Union Pacific Railroad bridges, and will link West Dallas and North Oak Cliff with downtown Dallas.
- World-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava is designing the bridge.
- The proposed 1,870-foot structure includes six lanes for vehicular traffic. The "signature" portion of the bridge will be 1,200-feet in length.
- Cables attached to a 400-foot central transverse arch will hold up the structure.
- Total estimated cost for the bridge (including connections outside the levees): $115 million (The City’s contribution for bridge construction and right-of-way is capped at $28 million from Trinity River Corridor Project bond funds approved by voters in 1998. Federal and state agencies, and private donations, will provide additional funding for the structure.)”
- Design was complete in April 2006.
- Construction contract was awarded in October 2006. Construction is expected to start in March 2007. The bridge should be completed in mid-2009.
The photographs above illustrate the most recent concept for the bridge.
IH-30 Signature Bridge
Santiago Calatrava delivers latest design concept for the proposed IH-30 Signature Bridge
The proposed IH-30 bridge is currently under design. It will rise to 300' at the center arch and will span 1,100 ft. It will have 11 main lanes, 1 reversible HOV lane, and 4 lanes of collector/distributor road.
Click on image at left for detailed view.
In the same fashion that the IH-30 Bridge acts as a gateway for East/West regional flow, the IH-35E Bridge becomes the gateway for the North/South flow, and thus the entire ensemble of bridges defines a notion of intersection, communication and exchange. Located between the Jefferson and Corinth Bridges, the IH-35E Bridge could consist of inclined twin arches meeting on the highest point with a suspended cradle deck hanging from the arches. This NAFTA highway bridge could visually impact over 40 million travelers per year.
IH-30 and IH-35E Signature Bridges - Next Steps
- Funding sources to be sought for the IH-30 and IH-35E Signature Bridges.
- The IH-35E could be eligible for additional funding under the International Trail Corridor and Border Infrastructure Program (NAFTA Corridor).