Frederick Gottemoeller - Bridgescape LLC

Growing air travel requires the Fort Lauderdale Airport to extend its main runway and its associated taxiway. The extension includes two bridges, one carrying the runway and one carrying the taxiway, across six lanes of US. 1, a two track freight railroad, a future Light Rail Transit line, and the airport's two lane Perimeter Road. The bridges are essentially very wide structural platforms or tunnels. As with any tunnel the platforms require intense interior lighting to provide consistent conditions for drivers who suddenly leave daylight behind when they enter the tunnels and just as suddenly encounter daylight again when they exit.

The proposed platforms would consist of multiple precast concrete girders supported by linear concrete cap beams that are in turn supported by rows of concrete columns with an ovoid "Rugby ball" section. At the portals horizontal screens made up of aluminum louvers are proposed above the roadways to create an area of intermediate lighting, less than full daylight but greater than the tunnel interior. The screens would also reflect daylight into the tunnels. The screens would give the portals a distinctive appearance that would make them fitting gateways to the airport. In the tunnels colorful LED tubes in a flowing "wave" pattern above the roadways would provide a virtual ceiling. This and other aesthetic lighting would focus drivers' attention toward their individual roadways and make it easier for them operate safely within the great volume of space below the platforms.