Design unique
At more than 45 feet above water, the sleek bridge is the
only high-level pedestrian bridge in Florida.
“You don’t usually see a major high-level trail bridge that’s
two-thirds of a mile over tidal waters like this,” said Hisham
Sunna, vice president of Ayres Associates.
And, while elegant, the bridge is also structurally solid –
designed to withstand the same vessel collision forces as
would have been required for a vehicular bridge over the
same body of water, Sunna said, noting that Ayres also
designed new seawalls, shore protection, an access road,
the trail, stormwater treatment, and parking.
Ultimately, the team met all of FDOT’s objectives and
more, going on to earn a Grand Award in the Florida
Institute of Consulting
Engineers 2014
Engineering
Excellence
Awards
competition and a
National Recognition Award
in the American Council of
Engineering Companies 2014
Engineering Excellence Awards
program.
“I think overall it’s done what it’s
meant to do and provided a safe
pedestrian facility,” Quaid said.
Norton agreed.
“The residents of the Tampa Bay (area)
received an award-winning monument
14│TRENDS
Enjoying the End Product
What’s it like to journey across the Courtney
Campbell Multiuse Trail Bridge? Steve Norton
of American Bridge, the design-build contractor
on the project, said this bridge gives users the
opportunity to stop, listen, look, and enjoy
Tampa Bay in a way they can’t driving full speed
over the mainline highway.
“As we constructed the bridge, we saw all sorts
of wildlife that you simply can’t enjoy as you
speed across our bridges on your way to work,”
said Norton, project engineer. Over a year’s
time, Norton and his crews observed manatees,
dolphins, sting rays, and more. “As we built the
project, at a certain time of the year, the snook
and redfish were piled under our docks.”
Norton encourages anyone and everyone to visit
the trail and walk over the bridge – but to do so
slowly.
“Watch the faces and the smiles of the people
using the bridge and trail,” he said. “Listen to
their chatter, and watch them point out over the
water as they find something they will not see at
70 mph.”
to our area, at a great value and with the very best in
design and in quality,” he said. “What a great addition to
our area.”