Sunday, October 15, 2006

Ultimate Bridge Walk




Would you walk on this?
The Glass Bridge Construction of the Skywalk began March of 2004 and is estimated to be completed by 4th quarter of 2006.

When I was in Sedona, I visited the Grand Canyon, which is 2 hrs away. The Glass Bridge would have entailed a trip out of the park, which is about 30 miles, go west 50 miles, and back to the Canyon about 30 miles. As the crow flies, the Glass Bridge was maybe 20 minutes from the park. From what I have heard the bridge is built, and the Casinos, hotels are next to be built.

Glass Bridge will be suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River on the very edge of the Grand Canyon. On May 2005, the final test was conducted and the structure passed engineering requirements by 400 percent, enabling it to withstand the weight of 71 fully loaded Boeing 747 airplanes (more that 71 million pounds).

The bridge will be able to sustain winds in excess of 100 miles per hour from 8 different directions, as well as an 8.0 magnitude earthquake within 50 miles. More than one million pounds of steel will go into the construction of the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

2 comments:

Jim Wilkins said...

I look at it, and wonder - would I or would I not? Part of me says, yes, I would venture out - but to know for sure I would have to go and check it out.
At the Canyon, I could hang over the rails and snap pictures of the bottom of the area, but at the Abyss where there are few rails, the shivers started at my toes and worked up to the adominal area. The glass rail may prove a boon or bust.
I feel trip coming on, too bad the bar is not open yet.

Admin said...

that is SO crazy! i would walk it totally!