This summer marks the tenth anniversary of the Sundial Bridge in Redding, Calif. The celebration will culminate on July 4th, the actual anniversary of the stunning architectural superstructure.
Known around the world for his unique bridge designs, Spain’s Santiago Calatrava drafted the Sundial, his first freestanding bridge in the United States.
The bridge is 700 feet long, 23 feet wide, and rises 217 feet. Made of steel, it features 200 tons of non-skid glass and over 4,000 feet of cable while resting on a foundation of more than 115 tons of steel and 1,900 cubic yards of concrete.
The bridge spans the Sacramento River, linking the northern and southern sections of the 300-acre Turtle Bay Exploration Park. It has become a symbol of the creative spirit that the park has sought to represent for Redding and Northern California. The bridge appears almost translucent as the sun moves across it. Visitors can view the river below through non-skid glass decking.
The unique construction protects the nearby salmon-spawning habitat. To avoid damaging riparian areas, the steel for the bridge was pre-fabricated and transported in sections from Vancouver, Wash.
A private McConnell Foundation grant paid most of the bridge’s $23 million cost.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park: Sundial Bridge. VisitRedding.com, Web. 18 June 2014.
