Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Opening (Dallas) March 4th

[StephenH]

A place to go if you're killing time on March 4th...

http://www.mhhbridgecelebration.com/events.html

Sunday, March 4, 2012 | Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Celebration Sunrise Blessing and Ribbon Cutting...7:15am ..."After the sun rises over the bridge and the ceremony concludes, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is open without additional programming allowing strollers, bicyclists, and skaters to enjoy the final day on the bridge without cars."

(There's a $200/ticket party on Friday, street fair on Saturday, then bridge is open for bikes but not cars on Sunday. And this is the bridge with the big white arch if you're not familiar with it.)

[tcs]

From what I've read, and believe me, I'd love to be wrong about this, but cyclists better enjoy that ONE DAY of riding the bridge. The MHH Bridge has been designed with six lanes of freeway-speed motor vehicle traffic but no provisions for pedestrian or bicycle use.

Dallas spent extra to get a 'signature' bridge that makes a statement about the city and its future. I'd say they have.

I also read that they're planning a 'walkable' development on the west end of the bridge. This would of course be separated from walkable downtown by a bridge one must use a car to cross. Blitheringly. Clueless.

[stdlrf11]

This summer we went riding in the Trinity basin and checked out the bridge. We saw what looked like the foundation of an MUP bridge being built further south down by the rapids.

[StephenH]

I was googling around on this some, and found some mention of a trail at the existing railroad, and also mention of turning Continental into a pedestrian/bicycle bridge, but not a lot of detail.

[tcs]

This summer we went riding in the Trinity basin and checked out the bridge. We saw what looked like the foundation of an MUP bridge being built further south down by the rapids.

Ah yes, the "bridge to nowhere".

[Yo Spiff]

A shame that they have overlooked bicycle access, though adding pedestrian/bike bridges nearby would be a good thing. I expect to be photographing it a lot. Got some interesting shots before the roadway was in place.

Dallas dawn by Yo Spiff, on Flickr

[bergerandfries]

A shame that they have overlooked bicycle access

Don't think that for a second. BikeDFW brought this to the City of Dallas and were told point blank: "NO!"

Until we have the political will, crap like this will continue to happen.

[Yo Spiff]

Don't think that for a second. BikeDFW brought this to the City of Dallas and were told point blank: "NO!"

Until we have the political will, crap like this will continue to happen.

Well, that sucks. Hopefully we'll have better success over here in FW, with the new mayor being a cyclist herself. That's got to have some positive influence. I understand Arlington is a hard sell for bikes as well.

[apacherider]

That is a video made by a city councilperson riding across the bridge last summer.

Here is another of the lower bridge downstream



Makes me wish I still lived in DFW. Back when I worked for broadcast.com (Mark Cuban's old company) in Deep Ellum we would ride the dirt berms and roads near downtown after work.

Here is a website that has a ton of info on it, one of my best riding amigos from when I lived in Dallas writes it. Wish it was more saucy. He writes for Viceland too, plus a normal 9-5 job. The viceland stuff mixed with the flava of South Dallas would be epic. I guess he is trying to not scare people with what he sees.
http://dallastrinitytrails.blogspot....r-trinity.html

[StephenH]

An update...they have the big parties early March, but it'll be late March before the bridge is actually opened:
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/City-...140223713.html

[tcs]

We went down today. The bridge is pretty cool. The water bottle was stolen off my wife's bike.

Or not.jpg