Skybridge Jacksonville!

[Overstreet]

The...." 900 foot Skywalk system of around $1.35 Million."    Covered,  with walls. lights, airconditioning, interior finishes I recently paid half of that for less than 10% of the 900lf Skywalk system. I think your price estimates are a little low.

[Ocklawaha]

Very cool Ock.  Would this be enclosed, for those rare days when it rains?  Or maybe a covered, so it stays dry, but does not get wet?

We actually looked at this both ways, using a glass/acrylic tube for the section over the freeway, and open walks on the rest of it. The ultimate decision would be up to the COJ and the effected corporations.

I'm a little confused on the prices quoted. The ped bridge engineers estimated a comparable plain vanilla ped bridge of the entire 900 ft length to be $1.35 million, but the expressway contractor estimates this actual design would cost $4-5 million just to cross the expressway? Could you clarify?

Yes, two contractors stated the 900' elevated sidewalk would run about $1.35 million, and the iconic 'healing harp' cable stayed bridge for the main span would run $4-5 million.

A bridge in that location just makes since.  And the location lends itself to something that can become an iconic structure for our city.  The city should up a design competition and let the local community vote on the best option.

I agree Jason, but I think you've already trumped anybody else's design.

Great concept Ock. Any idea on how the skyway completely missed serving the main destination on the Southbank that has parking constraints?

National embarrassment heaped pressure on the city to fix the Skyway? The new Acosta being the low hanging fruit? Lack of forward thinking creativity?  Cost was no doubt cheaper then the angled Skyway only bridge that would have run from the south end of Hogan, to the Main Street freeway on the southbank.

Anyway, sorry we can't afford this.  Despite $77 billion in sales last year, 7-11 needs your tax dollars because they can't afford to open gas stations in this expensive place called Jacksonville.

Well placed sarcasm considering the complete disregard for the will of the people, or the benefits which the mobility plan would deliver.

Certainly looks like it would be pretty cheap, anybody have an idea what kind of clearance needs to be provided?

65' Is the target vertical clearance from Jax to Port of Sanford, it will be obtained when the Shand's Bridge is rebuilt or replaced.  45' from Port of Sanford to the City of Sanford. You'd have to find a way to do it that wouldn't encroach on the vertical clearance below, perhaps cantilevered on the side?

The...." 900 foot Skywalk system of around $1.35 Million."    Covered,  with walls. lights, airconditioning, interior finishes I recently paid half of that for less than 10% of the 900lf Skywalk system.

The actual quote was based on a elevated walkway with handrails, or a walkway with a simple metal roof. Both Continental and Gator Bridge quoted around $1,200 per foot which I inflated to $1,500 to arrive at the figure.

[Charles Hunter]

OK, I'm still confused on the price.  Is it $1.35 million for the whole thing if it is just a Plain Jane bridge over the Acosta and FEC? Or is it the $1.35 M plus $4 or $5 M (say $4.5M) for that crossing, for a total of $5.9 for the full meal deal?

[Ocklawaha]

No Charles, the 900' connecting walks are plain Jane elevated walks one running from the bridge to the Skyway station and the other running from the bridge to the hospital/Aetna. Those were priced at $1,500 per foot. The bridge itself, over the Acosta and the FEC RY is the main iconic structure and would run $4-5 million for roughly 280' feet.

BTW, the engineers said they really liked the stay cable design as it makes the construction simpler and the bridge as a project would move much faster.

[513_CINCINNATI]

I love that skywalk. Check out Cincyimages.com

[barnaby99]

I'll bring the hammer and screw driver! Let's start building!

[Ralph W]

An example of shortsightedness is the loss of the Mobility Fee revenue because of the moratorium voted in by our city council. (Who said $3 million or so won't buy much?) If the Mobility Fee had not been squashed this walkway could have been funded right now.

How about the $9 million? Everyone wants to put their fingers in the pie which will water down whatever is decided.

[Ocklawaha]

If this was promoted by our city, properly planned, it could be a signature PUBLIC-PRIVATE partnership. City of Jacksonville, JTA (State of Florida and Federal funding sources), Baptist Medical Center, Wolfson Children's Hospital and Aetna Insurance. Toss in a second short walk from the second floor of Medical Center Station directly into the Prudential Insurance Tower, and I'll predict the daily Skyway ridership doubles again.

[HisBuffPVB]

Miles Francis was the Director of the JTA , not a member of the Authority Board.

[Ocklawaha]

Thanks for the catch Stephen, it did indeed come from that news broadcast which tormented me to no end in Colombia. Every railroader and official that knew of the story (it aired in SA) decided (jokingly) the guy from Jacksonville did it!

[HisBuffPVB]

I don't like splitting hairs, but if you are a staff person of an authority, you are not a member of the authority, that designation is directed only at Board Members. As Director or whatever, you are an employee. In a public meeting, you are not introduced as a member. But on a scale of 1 to 10, as a significant issue, that is about an 0.5. Miles was a dedicated and loyal public servant. He did a very smart thing in moving when he retired. The best things you can do after being in a responsible position is to get out of the way of your successor and don't get caught up in second guessing the direction that he or she and the Board Members decide to take the organization.