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Slide descriptions
1. Crossing the California Street Bridge
2. The observation deck
3. The span of the cables
4. View from the Clarks Fork River
5. Tower and 10 pairs of steel cable carry the load
6. From trusses to modern railings
7. The supporting steel tower
8. The vibrant colors add contrast to the surrounding
landscape
9. The observation deck rests on an existing river island
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The California Street Bridge is a new 400-foot span across the Clark Fork River in Missoula, Montana. The new bridge provides a pedestrian and bicycle river crossing for the western edge of downtown Missoula and creates a new link for an extensive network of city sidewalks and bicycle trails. The structure is the result of progressive leadership by city oificials and input from the community. The design team shaped the community's vision to meet a tight budget, while providing the city with an exciting river crossing and an elegant addition to the valley's skyline.
The bridge is supported on two concrete bridge landings on the north and south riverbank, which are landscaped to blend the intersections of bridge and sidewalk traffic, bicycle trail and street traiiic. A single concrete and steel tower supports the center of the bridge. In addition to supporting the trusses and steel tower above, the mid-river concrete support creates an observation deck over an existing river island. Two pair of 5-foot tall, 200-foot long steel trusses span from the landings to the center tower. The steel trusses and connecting concrete deck carry thes structure's dead load, and the steel tower and 10 pair of
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steel suspension cables carry the live load. This unusual construction system was very cost- effective and allowed the contractor to construct the bridge with minimal impact to the existing adjacent riverscape. Most of the steel assembly was performed off-site while on-site staging occurred on Calirornia Street. The large assemblies were then lifted into place over the river.
The large steel trusses evoke images of historic trestle railroad crossings and the steel tower and suspension cables evoke a clean, modern image to represent the city's bright future. The steel was painted in vibrant colors to complement an existing civic tent structure located just upriver. The new bridge provides a saie river crossing for handicapped residents of a nearby assisted living facility as well as for Missoula's nonmotorized traffic. It completes a full downtown bicycle loop and connects the western residential neighborhoods to an extensive bicycle and pedestrian network throughout the city. The bridge is a beautiful vantage from which to experience the Clark Fork River and the dramatic Missoula valley landscape.