Turtle Bay – Exploration Park, Sundial Bridge
The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay (Exploration park) crosses the Sacramento River in the heart of Redding, California. The special bridge was opened in july 4, 2004 and links the north and south campuses of the Turtle Bay Park and serves, as a new entrance for Redding’s extensive Sacramento River Trail system. The bridge is also enviromentally sensitive to its river setting. Plazas are situated at both ends of the bridge for public use -the north side plaza stretches to the water allowing patrons to sit at the river’s edge.
In addition to being a functional work of art, the Sundial Bridge is a technical marvel as well. The cable-stayed structure has an inclined, 217 foot pylon constructed of 580 tons of steel. The deck is made up of 200 tons of glass and granite and is supported by more than 4,300 feet of cable. The structure is stabilized by a steel truss, and rests on a foundation of more than 115 tons of steel and 1,900 cubic yards of concrete. The McConnell Foundation, a private, independent foundation established in Redding in 1964, funded the majority of the bridge’s $23 million cost.
The design for the Sundial Bridge was conceived by spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the world’s premier bridge designer. Calatrava has built bridges, airports, rail terminals, stadiums, and other structures around the world. Though he recently completeda major expansion of the Milwaukee Art Museum, and has been selected to design the new Oakland Cathedral, this is his first freestanding bridge in the United States.
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