News from the River (Cont.)

Bridging the Trinity, A Bridge Fair at the River (con't)

Bridge architect Santiago Calatrava will make a special guest appearance with Mayor Tom Leppert and National Honorary Chairs U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. Joining them will be  Honorary Event Chairs Mary McDermott Cook, Lyda Hill, Al Hill Jr. and Alinda Wikert. The party Event Chair is Lynn McBee and the Host Committee Chair is Christy Berry.

Street artists, tasty delights and some special treats will greet participants as they mingle under the stars on the Continental Avenue Bridge. Entertainment will be by DJ Lucy Wrubel and the band Boys Named Sue. The party begins at 7:30 p.m. and the night is right for evening casual attire. Valet parking will be on the east side of the bridge.

Suspense is Building, Educational Campaign.

Don't miss the debut of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge “Suspense is Building” educational outreach campaign, sponsored by The Trinity Trust Foundation. Watch for distinctive billboards, backlit SmartSigns, a DART bus wrapped in the campaign's message, The Dallas Morning News ads, and area radio spots. 

Dr. Gail Thomas, president of The Trinity Trust Foundation, said, "We want to let people know about the importance of the Trinity River and to showcase the importance of this natural resource that runs partially through the heart of downtown Dallas. Plus, we're building excitement around this magnificent bridge — the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge — designed by Santiago Calatrava, an internationally renowned architect, designer, artist and engineer."

Buildings rise in cities daily, but building a bridge of this stature is monumental. The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge with an arch that reaches nearly 400 feet high. It will seamlessly connect West Dallas to downtown Dallas as it crosses the Trinity River and continues to Woodall Rodgers Freeway. A second signature bridge, the Margaret McDermott Bridge, is also planned.

“What makes these bridges unique is that they will become a part of the Dallas skyline,” Santiago Calatrava said. “They are the first steps in centering the city, with the Trinity River on both sides, and calling the city back to the river to become a central gathering place.”

Woodall Rodgers Extension Project, an Extreme Makeover!

By early October, expect major connections to and from Woodall Rodgers Freeway and Industrial/Riverfront Boulevard to close for construction activities associated with the Texas Department of Transportation’s Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and the ongoing Woodall Rodgers Extension project.

The closures will last approximately 21 months and affect several major connections at the intersection. They are as follows:

• Westbound Woodall Rodgers Fwy. traffic will no longer be able to directly access either direction of Industrial/Riverfront Blvd.
• Southbound Industrial/Riverfront Blvd. traffic will no longer be able to directly access eastbound Woodall Rodgers Fwy.

Northbound Industrial/Riverfront Blvd. access to eastbound Woodall Rodgers Fwy. will remain open. Industrial/Riverfront Boulevard Blvd. will remain open during the project, but will be reduced to two lanes each direction for the duration.

TxDOT and the City of Dallas are encouraging motorists to seek alternate routes.

• Southbound Industrial/Riverfront Blvd. motorists should use either Continental Avenue or Commerce Street as alternatives.
  
• Westbound Woodall Rodgers Fwy. traffic has several options, including the Field St. exit to Continental or the Commerce St. exit ramp to the southbound Interstate 35-East frontage road. (See attached map.)
  
• For access to Lew Sterritt or the Frank Crowley Criminal Courthouse from Central Expressway, one recommendation is to exit westbound Woodall Rodgers at Field St., turn left on Griffin St., and then turn right on Elm St. Elm merges into Commerce St. before intersecting with Industrial/Riverfront Blvd. The jail and criminal courts will be on the right.

The closures are part of the $47.5 million Woodall Rodgers Extension Project, which is being built in conjunction with the $69.7 million Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River. Both projects are scheduled to be completed by mid-2011.

   A NEW
 FUTURE