Sky bridge framework now spans Harry Hines

• Published: 11/5/2014

Cars travelling down Harry Hines Boulevard now pass under the steel framework of the sky bridge that will connect the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Sprague building with the new Parkland. Steel frame sections, known as trusses, were installed in November and make up the backbone of the sky bridge. The completed bridge will consist of eight sections in total weighing approximately 357 tons. It will be in place and operational before the move to the new facility.

Facts about the new sky bridge:

• The sky bridge will be 923 feet long. 
• It will connect the second floor of the new Parkland acute care hospital with the third floor of UT Southwestern's Sprague building.
• The bridge is relatively flat.
• It is 14 feet wide at each end and 16 feet wide over Harry Hines Boulevard. In the area of the bridge spanning Harry Hines Boulevard, seating will offer a place to rest along with a prime view of downtown Dallas.
• Approximately 24 piers will hold up the bridge with many drilled 80 feet deep.
• The sky bridge glass design is made up of 10,779 donor names, arranged to resemble leaves. 
• The bridge will offer a climate-controlled interior, emergency lighting, a sprinkler system and technology integration with Parkland’s Wi-Fi and telecom services.
• Above the sky bridge ceiling, a pneumatic tube system will connect the Parkland campus on both sides of Harry Hines Boulevard.