Helyx Bridge, Spiral pedestrian bridge in Gainesville, United States

The Helyx Bridge is a pedestrian and bicycle overpass in Gainesville, Florida, crossing U.S. Route 441. Rebuilt in 2012, it consists of a pair of connected sine waves 180 degrees out of phase, built to resemble a strand of DNA though not a true double helix. An array of LED lights illuminates it at night.

The bridge began as a railroad crossing connected to the Old Gainesville Depot but was redesigned into a pedestrian passage during the 1980s when the rail line was converted into a trail. This transformation marked a shift in how the area connected different parts of the city.

Locals call it the DNA Bridge, a nickname drawn from its shape rather than any official name. The 2012 design was intended as a nod to Gainesville's railroad past and to its high-tech future, with the nearby University of Florida Health Science Center cited as part of that outlook.

The bridge spans US 441 as an overpass on the rail trail that runs alongside Archer Road toward the Old Gainesville Depot. Pedestrians and cyclists cross above the roadway rather than at street level. LED lights illuminate the structure after dark, so the crossing stays visible in the evening.

The two metal waves shift 180 degrees apart from each other, creating a visual pattern that resembles a DNA double helix. This distinctive geometry inspired locals to call it the DNA Bridge.