Diamondback Bridge brings functional public art to the bicycle and pedestrian network underway in Tucson, Arizona. Walking through the belly of a giant rattlesnake - with 11-foot high fangs, translucent eyes that light up, and a 20-foot high tail equipped with a 300-pound fiberglass rattlesnake - offers a fun and whimsical experience for residents and visitors to safely cross six lanes of traffic handling more than 34,500 vehicles per day.
Diamondback Bridge has a unique rounded underside concrete superstructure with stripe rustication that resembles a diamondback's belly. Pedestrian fencing reinforces the snake-like body using circular tube-steel framing that creates a diamond pattern and expanded metal fencing suggests a scaly skin.
The ADA-accessible bridge is a viable link in the regional system of pedestrian pathways that connects the southeast side of Metropolitan Tucson to the northwest side and downtown business district. The design, conceived by local artist, Simon Donovan, was selected in 1997. After extensive community education and outreach, value engineering and redesign, construction began on the $2.5 million Bridge in April 2001 and was opened to the public in May 2002. Funding for the bridge came from various local and federal funds. The bridge has received numerous awards for design and engineering.
Goal
Improve bicycle and pedestrian safety