Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay, Cable-stayed bridge in Redding, United States.
The Sundial Bridge crosses the Sacramento River with a translucent glass surface that lets you see the water below as you walk. A single white pylon leans backward from the north bank, holding steel cables that support the deck from above.
Santiago Calatrava designed this structure as part of an expansion at Turtle Bay Exploration Park that took place in the early 2000s. The opening occurred on July 4, 2004, marking the end of a multi-year construction project.
The bridge is the cover image of a general physics textbook by Serway and Jewett, shown resisting wind and gravity. Since 2009, Nor-Cal Think Pink has lit it pink annually for breast cancer awareness. The dial and plaza beneath the mast are decorated with broken white tile from Spain.
The crossing is open to pedestrians and cyclists, with the width of the pathway making it easy to pass others. On sunny days the glass can become warm, so solid footwear is recommended.
The 217-foot mast leans at 42 degrees and serves as the gnomon of a sundial whose dial lies north of the bridge. The shadow's tip moves about one foot per minute, so the Earth's rotation is visible to the naked eye. Sources note the shadow is exact only at the summer solstice, and the dial reads Pacific Daylight Time.
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