Helyx Bridge
Bridge in Gainesville, Florida
Helyx Bridge
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Coordinates | 29°38′28″N 82°20′22″W / 29.64111°N 82.33944°W / 29.64111; -82.33944 |
Carries | Pedestrians , Cyclists |
Crosses |
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Locale | Gainesville, Florida |
Official name | Helyx Bridge |
Characteristics | |
Material | Aluminum , Concrete |
History | |
Opened | 1980s (as a rail trail), 2012 (re-opening) |
Location | |
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The Helyx Bridge , unofficially dubbed the DNA Bridge , is a pedestrian and bicycle overpass located in Gainesville, Florida. It crosses over U.S. Route 441 (US 441).
History
The bridge was originally built to carry rail traffic on a line that paralleled the modern day Archer Road toward what is now the Old Gainesville Depot . When the line was converted to a rail trail in the 1980s, [1] the bridge was converted for pedestrian use, and a steel cage-like structure was installed. In 2009, the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency determined that a refresh would be needed to improve the structure's appearance and improve the image conveyed by what was a gateway to the city. In March 2012, construction started on a new design resembling a strand of DNA , with the bridge re-opening on Thanksgiving [2] [3]
Design
When the bridge was rebuilt in 2012, it was designed as a nod to Gainesville's past as a railroad town, as well as its future in the high-tech industry and the nearby University of Florida Health Science Center . Although built to resemble a strand of DNA, the structure is not a true double helix , but instead a pair of connected sine waves 180 degrees out of phase . At night, the bridge is lit by an array of LED lights [4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Artistic renovation for Gainesville's Depot Trail Overpass" . American Trails. 25 November 2012 . Retrieved 13 November 2016 .
- ↑ "Helyx Bridge (13th Street Pedestrian Overpass Enhancement)" . Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency . Retrieved 13 November 2016 .
- ↑ Christopher Curry (25 November 2012). "13th Street overpass has opened along with other improvement projects" . Gainesville Sun . Retrieved 13 November 2016 .
- ↑ "SW 13th Street Helyx Bridge" . Oelrich Construction . Retrieved 13 November 2016 .
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