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Architects: RDG Planning & Design
- Year: 2011
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Photographs:IRIS22 Productions
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Manufacturers: Iowa Metal Fabrication, Steel Erectors of Iowa
Text description provided by the architects. The High Trestle Trail Bridge, is the fifth longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in the US. The bridge, over a half mile long, spans the Des Moines River Valley, and connects over 600 miles of trail in central Iowa. With design embracing local coal mining history and geology of the area, the site-specific installation utilizes a tunnel of steel cribs, mimicking the structure of an old mine shaft, and abstracting them in a manner which evokes a sense of whimsical travel through time and space.
The experience becomes even more surreal as night falls, and blue LED’s highlight the playful geometry of the cribs, drawing users in and gently releasing them through the other side. Not only has the installation been an experiential gift to the public, but it has also been recognized as a major contribution to regional economic development, with an additional 15 to 20 thousand people per month traveling to the local communities on both sides of the bridge.
Thanks to the collaboration between public artists, engineers, architects, lighting designers, owner and the public, this installation is now the keystone, uniting five distinct communities along the trail.
