Bridge, in theory, earns design honor

By CHRISTINA HEADRICK

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 14, 1999

CLEARWATER -- The preliminary design of the planned Memorial Causeway Bridge is being touted as one of seven "Landmark American Bridges of the 21st Century" in an ongoing exhibit of the Boston Society of Architects.

The structures are on their way to becoming community symbols, according to the society. But some are farther along than others.

The Clearwater causeway bridge's design has not been approved by the City Commission. Nor are city officials certain what the exact price tag of the bridge will be when it is completed in 2003.

One commissioner questioned whether the causeway's design was being honored prematurely.

"I think they're a lot of amenities that could be eliminated," Commissioner J.B. Johnson said, citing their added expense. "We need to concentrate on a very nice beautiful bridge that will take us to the beach and bring us back."

But city officials and the architect designing the bridge say that its basic, sleek design merits national attention -- even if the commission ultimately decides to forgo some of the special amenities proposed in September.

People visiting the Boston exhibit seemed "very much impressed by the basic design and the flow of the bridge," said Clearwater engineering director Mahshid Arasteh, who recently saw the exhibit. "They liked how light and airy and smooth the lines are."

The design has the fewest number of supports possible, said the bridge's Massachusetts architect, Fred Gottemoeller. The idea was to preserve views underneath the proposed high, fixed-span structure, which will replace an old drawbridge, he said.

But Gottemoeller also is proud of the special features that he's proposed.

The pride carried over into the exhibit. Miguel Rosales, another principal at Gottemoeller's New England architectural firm, compiled the list of bridges included in the display. The exhibit then debuted with a lecture at the Boston Architectural Center, an architectural college that hosts similar events monthly.

The Clearwater bridge's proposed people-friendly amenities include benches with shade coverings, a 12-foot-wide, colorful concrete path for pedestrians and a sleek, modern design that allows ample views across Clearwater Harbor.

Designers also envision railings with lighting built into them to create a thin, bright ribbon across the bridge at night. A winding ramp would allow people to enter the bridge by foot from Coachman Park. Skylights would let light shine through the bridge's approach near downtown Clearwater.

Commissioners will be able to choose the extra features they want to include, said City Manager Mike Roberto, after contractors bid on the project and cite prices for various options.

The total cost of the Memorial Causeway could be as high as $49-million, said Public Works Administrator Rich Baier -- if the commission opts to include up to $3-million in amenities.

In addition to showcasing Clearwater's bridge, the Boston exhibit includes structures across the country. It includes the Charles River bridges in Boston; the Raccoon River bridges in Des Moines, Iowa; the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C.; Chicago's Damen Avenue Bridge; the New Peace Bridge in Buffalo, New York; and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in California.

The bridge exhibit continues at the center until Monday, when it moves to the 3,500-member Boston Society of Architect's building until Jan. 28.

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