Proposed pedestrian bridge to cross Inner Harbor

Pedestrians

Proposed pedestrian bridge to cross Inner Harbor

by Dan Malouff • September 12, 2011 1:15 pm

I've always thought it a shame that Baltimore's Harbor Tunnel wasn't built as a suspension bridge. What a glorious sight that would be, with the skyline as a backdrop. Now Baltimore may be getting a second chance with a proposed cable-stayed pedestrian bridge over the harbor.

Proposed Inner Harbor bridge. Image from the Greater Baltimore Committee.

The Greater Baltimore Committee—basically the chamber of commerce—is considering ideas to redevelop Rash Field, the underused waterfront park space between Federal Hill and the Inner Harbor. So far their leading idea is to improve access to the park via a new pedestrian bridge crossing the Inner Harbor, connecting Rash Field and Federal Hill to the booming Harbor East area (see map).

The idea seems like a real winner all around. It would connect two neighborhoods of Baltimore that are extremely close geographically but extremely difficult to navigate between, and it would provide a visually beautiful, dramatic addition to the city's skyline. A suspension or cable-stayed bridge over the Inner Harbor would instantly become one of the city's most important visual icons.

The bridge would be designed to open, to let tall ships such as the Pride of Baltimore in and out of the Inner Harbor.

This is still a preliminary idea. It's no sure thing to happen, and even if it does move forward the design could change dramatically. But those caveats aside, GBC's rendering of what such a bridge might look like shows what could become a landmark feature for the Inner Harbor.

22 comments

Tags: Baltimore, bridges, Maryland, pedestrians

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Dan Malouff is a professional transportation planner for the Arlington County Department of Transportation. He has a degree in Urban Planning from the University of Colorado, and lives a car-free lifestyle in Northwest Washington. His posts are his own opinions and do not represent the views of his employer in any way. He runs the blog BeyondDC and also contributes to the Washington Post Local Opinions blog.

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I'm not too familiar with Baltimore but this sounds like a positive move for the Inner Harbor. Pedestrian bridges in general are a good idea. There has been talk of a pedestrian bridge across the Anacostia River, which I think should happen. I'm not sure where else they make sense in DC though.

I'm always impressed with the river crossings in Pittsburgh. I was there once for a Pirates game and one of the bridges was closed to vehicle traffic for the game. It was great to be able to walk to the stadium and a terrific way to view the city.

by Jamie Scott on Sep 12, 2011 2:09 pm • link • report

@Jamie Scott:
That's the Roberto Clemente (6th Street) Bridge that they close for Pirates games. I happened upon it this summer while it was closed:
http://flic.kr/p/a7od5F

by Matt Johnson on Sep 12, 2011 2:12 pm • link • report

That would be incredible. I have to admit, the US hasn't been known to spend that heavily on pedestrian-only bridges, is there a precedent for that?

by Nolan on Sep 12, 2011 2:15 pm • link • report

Considering Maryland is trying to come up with the money to pay for the red & purple lines, I wonder whether it's at all likely they'll be able to pay for this pedestrian bridge as well? Having said that, it certainly would be a wonderful addition to Baltimore!

by Aaron on Sep 12, 2011 2:34 pm • link • report

Nolan, here are a couple for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Kerrey_Pedestrian_Bridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundial_Bridge_at_Turtle_Bay

by RichardatCourthouse on Sep 12, 2011 3:11 pm • link • report

Thanks RichardatCourthouse!

I guess it's not impossible, just rare. I like our chances!

by Nolan on Sep 12, 2011 3:13 pm • link • report

@Dan M, I've always thought it a shame that Baltimore's Harbor Tunnel wasn't built as a suspension bridge.

The reason tunnels are used in crucial spots such as here and in Hampton Roads instead of bridges is that in time of war a bridge over a crucial sealane becomes a real liability. It's not the destruction of the bridge itself in as 'it's capability to carry vehicular traffic across the water' that is the problem, but instead that the remains of the bridge itself will block the sea lanes ... and leave no way out (or in) for vessels of all types ... including military ones.

by Lance on Sep 12, 2011 3:15 pm • link • report

@Aaron:

Why Maryland? I'd hope that Baltimore would be trying to pay for this itself as a matter of civic improvement.

by Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Sep 12, 2011 3:16 pm • link • report

That would cut more than a few minutes off of some bike commutes in Baltimore.

Jamie, a few other places I've heard mentioned for pedestrian bridges in DC are

1. Over the Washington Channel from P St SW to East Potomac Park
2. From East Potomac Park over the Potomac as a continuation of Buckeye drive to the MVT.
3. From the Georgetown Waterfront to TR Island.

by David C on Sep 12, 2011 3:17 pm • link • report

@Lance

The Navy access matters a lot more for Norfolk than it does for Baltimore. The reason that Baltimore has two tunnels are much more banal, I'm afraid. There's the relatively shallow depth of the water as well as the decreased cost for the structure. The one exception is the Key bridge, where the longer crossing made a bridge more cost-effective.

Even if the Harbor Tunnel and/or Fort McHenry Tunnel were to be a bridge instead, I'm not sure that a truly iconic suspension or cable-stayed span would be justified on the engineering merits alone.

@David C

For those bridge suggestions, #1 would block the existing channel and would need to be a draw span of some kind.

#2 would seem to fit into the category of many existing bridges in the DC area that could use a substantial upgrade of their bike/ped facilities - but I'm not sure a separate bridge would be warranted. The Roosevelt bridge is another opportunity.

by Alex B. on Sep 12, 2011 3:32 pm • link • report

The state originally wanted to build a bridge for I-95 that would have overshadowed Fort McHenry. After a public outcry, the road was moved to a tunnel, which was more expensive, but has worked out better than a bridge over Fort McHenry.

The pedestrian bridge idea is nice, but it would be better to have transit access between the two areas.

If it leads to economic revitalization and more tax revenue, it is worthwhile for the state to pay for at least part of it.

by Steve on Sep 12, 2011 3:45 pm • link • report

My first thought is that it would be a prime spot for teenage thugs to rob tourists, as if that didn't happen enough at the Inner Harbor already. But I do like the idea.

by Pat on Sep 12, 2011 3:57 pm • link • report

Alex, I think #1 is in DC's Bike plan, but I feel like DDOT has moved away from it. I feel like it was a swing span. #2 was brought up in planning for the 14th Street Bridge replacement. So the bike/ped lane there would be moved to this location.

by David C on Sep 12, 2011 4:16 pm • link • report

I take that back, the P street bridge is in the AWI - which is no longer online.

by David C on Sep 12, 2011 4:18 pm • link • report

@David C

I think a P Street SW bridge would be cool, but not a huge priority. Part of the problem would be that it gets you to Hains Point - which is nice, but there's just not a lot of activity there that can justify the investment (plus the ongoing operation of a swing/lift bridge).

The best spot for a bike/ped bridge in DC is, IMO, Mass Ave SE. That's along a long stretch of river without a crossing (between Penn Ave and East Capitol St) that has substantial neighborhoods on either side. Too many other areas have less-than-active uses on one side of a river.

The East Capitol bridge could use a serious upgrade to the sidewalks, too. They are really narrow. Simply improving bike and ped access on existing bridges would be a great low-hanging fruit, IMO.

by Alex B. on Sep 12, 2011 5:00 pm • link • report

Alex, that was not a ranked list. Just a list of suggestions I've seen. I agree that the Mass Ave Bridge is probably the best - if it creates a direct connection to the east side Mass Ave. If all it does is connect to the Anacostia Riverwalk, then it's pretty redundant.

the worst part of the East Cap bridge is that the south side sidewalk is fenced off on the east side. Making it a literal Bridge to nowhere. Same as the southside TR bridge sidewalk. And the East Cap bridge one can be fixed so easily.

by David C on Sep 12, 2011 5:14 pm • link • report

Another example of this type of cable-stayed pedestrian bridge is being constructed right now in Portland as part of the Portland-Milwaukie MAX Light Rail Project. It is scheduled to open 2015 and will connect the South Waterfront area near downtown with the Central Eastside Industrial District and other neighborhoods to the southeast. It will also complete the Streetcar loop around downtown. The bridge will be open only to bikes, peds, light rail, streetcar, and buses.

http://trimet.org/pm/construction/bridge.htm#about

by Reza on Sep 12, 2011 9:39 pm • link • report

As an inhabitant of inner Baltimore (Fells Point, about a mile east of the Inner Harbor), I have to say I'm a bit skeptical of this. The distance between the two end points of the bridge as shown in the rendering is only about a mile (see http://g.co/maps/jzrfb ) and that whole distance is a pedestrian-friendly waterfront promenade.

I'm not sure how much a pedestrian cable-stayed bridge that can somehow open for tall boats would cost, but I'm guessing it would not be cheap. Many millions, at least. And I don't see chopping off a mile's walk around the Inner Harbor would really bring that many more people out to the park. (After all, it's immediately adjacent to the Maryland Science Center, one of the top tourist destinations in the Inner Harbor...)

I would much rather see Baltimore funnel its limited transportation budget towards projects that enhance connectivity throughout the city, like expanding the Circulator buses or building the Red Line subway. Making it easier for people from throughout Baltimore to get to the Harbor via transit will do more in the long run to green this city than adding another amenity to the city's core, particularly one that bypasses so little distance.

Heck, if you really want a gorgeous bridge added to the skyline, how about moving it a bit east, making it from Maritime Park/Harbor Point across to Harborview. With a not much larger bridge, that would instead bypass a 2.5 mile walk/bike (http://g.co/maps/tdsse) to directly link Harbor East & Fells to Fed Hill. That would be fantastic, especially if the Harbor Point development ever gets off the ground.

by Marshall Perrin on Sep 12, 2011 9:58 pm • link • report

I completely agree with the idea of Harbor Point to to Harborview. It makes much more sense, and connects neighborhoods AND the Inner Harbor, not just the Inner Harbor.

by Jed on Sep 13, 2011 2:15 pm • link • report

Pedestrian bridges are normally sure fire winners. RED STATE Tennessee has long been in the fore front of 'green city' initiatives...only they are normally funded as partnerships:

Walnut Street Bridge Chattanooga:
http://visitsouth.com/images/uploads/Walnut_Street_Bridge.jpg

Glass Pedestrian/Bike Bridge Chattanooga:
http://www.chattanoogachamber.com/images/Holmberg_Pedestrian_Bridge_at_First_Street_and_Hunter.jpg

Pedestrian/Bike Bridge Nashville:
http://www.dougvaughn.com/Architecture/NashvilleNight/IMG9978tm/741603712_PNWuR-L.jpg

by Pelham1861 on Sep 13, 2011 4:11 pm • link • report

Here is a somewhat similar pedestrian bridge nearing completion in Detroit: http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=5461

This one has similar goals to unite nearby neighborhoods and help pedestrians get around, but is in response to the freeways that divided the Mexicantown neighborhood when they were built rather than bridging a water barrier.

And here is what it looked like in an earlier phase of construction:
http://ow.ly/5nX71
http://ow.ly/5nX37

by Jonathan Tarr on Sep 13, 2011 6:02 pm • link • report

Another in the DC area:
In 2002-2003 Arlington considered replacing a bridge over Spout Run that had been damaged by a car in 1970 and subsequently torn down (map here: http://g.co/maps/mazg9). The bridge would have been ped//bike only and would have connected two neighborhoods that had been disconnected by the lost bridge. Also, people in the Woodmont neighborhood would then be able to walk to Courthouse.
There was strong neighborhood opposition to the proposal, and it was tabled in the spring of 2003.

by Steve O on Sep 13, 2011 11:23 pm • link • report