Ellsworth-to-Eastside pedestrian bridge project to get under way soon
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The long-awaited pedestrian walkway to link Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside to the Eastside shopping center in East Liberty now has the go-ahead to proceed, almost three years after the design was approved.
"All good things come to those who wait," said Rob Stephany, executive director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
The foot bridge, a URA project, was proposed by East Liberty Development Inc. as a way to link East Liberty and Shadyside when Eastside was constructed in 2004.
Right-of-way conflicts, property transfers, costs and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation conditions had to be resolved over the years. Mr. Stephany said another challenge was "the new territory of an artist working with engineers using state dollars, which takes patience."
Skip Schwab, director of operations at East Liberty Development Inc., said steel and other materials have been ordered. SAI Consulting Engineers, based in the Strip District, is doing the structural bridge design, and Frank A. Zottola of Valencia is the contractor.
The artist whose design for the pathway was chosen, Sheila Klein, is a Pittsburgh native who grew up in East Liberty and now lives in Bow, Wash. She will be in the city in mid-March to work with fabricators and glass artists, and the contractor will be on site by the end of April.
"I'm coming to inspect the first batch of glass and work with the team in general," said Ms. Klein.
The contractual date for completion is Dec. 27, said Mr. Schwab, "but we're hoping it will be sooner."
The Mosites Co. already has poured footers on the Eastside property, said Mr. Stephany. He said a plan for bus and train traffic control remains to be coordinated for work to be done on the Ellsworth side.
"This is a rather simple, elegant bridge but in a dynamic and complex environment," he said.
The concrete bridge deck will have an undulating path to be painted with standard street paint in a modernist design, said Ms. Klein. The bridge is 28 feet wide but the walking area varies from 12 to 16 feet, said John Perkun, project manager for SAI.
Ms. Klein said the fencing along the bridge will be shaped like sculpture and inspired by fun houses and other playful environments. There is planting between the fence and outside parameters of the bridge. Atop the fencing, she said, "thousands of glass sequins will reflect the light and create a sparkly edge."
The glass will be made at the Pittsburgh Glass Center in Friendship. Keystone Metals in Larimer is restoring railings that the city had salvaged from the 31st Street Bridge.
The project cost, which includes lighting and sidewalk improvements, was estimated to be about $1.5 million in 2008. An updated estimate was not available.
First Published March 6, 2011 12:00 am
