BP Pedestrian Bridge, Pedestrian bridge in Millennium Park, Chicago, United States.
The BP Pedestrian Bridge is a steel structure that spans Columbus Drive with a snakelike path and links Maggie Daley Park with Millennium Park in downtown Chicago. The surface is made of wooden planks and continuous metal walls rise on both sides along the entire length.
Frank Gehry designed this crossing as his first completed bridge project, which opened on July 16, 2004 alongside Millennium Park. The structure arose as part of the comprehensive transformation of the former railway land into a public park space.
The curved form recalls water movement and connects harmoniously with the other structures in the park. Pedestrians cross the bridge often to move between the two green spaces while the walls keep street noise away from the concert shell.
The wooden planks on the surface provide good traction and the five percent slope allows comfortable passage for wheelchair users and pedestrians. On sunny days the steel walls reflect light, so sunglasses can be helpful.
The continuous steel walls forgo traditional railings and instead form flowing barriers that wind like waves along the path. These walls reflect the sky and surrounding buildings and change their appearance depending on the time of day and weather.
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