Skydance Bridge Over I-40 In OKC To Be Complete In Spring

The drive past downtown Oklahoma City will soon look different. As work continues on the new I-40 crosstown, crews put final touches on a nearly 200 foot steel sculpture.

The sculpture is part of the Skydance Bridge that will go over the new highway near Harvey Avenue. The bridge is a MAPS 3 project.

In the near future, it will connect the upper and lower central parks, also approved in the MAPS 3 package.

The Oklahoma City based team picked by Mayor Mick Cornett to design the bridge said their inspiration came from the state bird, the Scissortail Flycatcher. They were tasked to change the city skyline and picked the bird for its iconic and recognizable form.

Bridge creators said sculpture is built to withstand earthquakes, an inch of ice and heavy winds.

The bird sculpture is over 100 tons of steel and will be hoisted in three phases. The final piece of the bird will be put in place December 8. The bridge will be complete in April 2012.