Grasshopper bridge protects children from floodwaters

The grasshopper is not usually thought of as a heroic creature. But Phoenix parents, concerned about the safety of their children during floods, are hoping their new grasshopper proves to be a lifesaver. Phoenix’s grasshopper is a 180-foot-long pedestrian bridge recently erected over the east fork of the Cave Creek Wash.

Before the bridge was erected, a paved road dipped down into the wash, and, although it looked harmless enough, it forced children to wade through mud and water after heavy rainstorms in order to get to a nearby school. Local parents realized that it harbored dangerous currents, with water rising anywhere from 6 to 12 inches, and wanted to ensure that their children had an option for crossing the river that did not involve wading.

At the parents’ request, the bridge became a city project, with $375,000 earmarked for its construction. Because the bridge was to be used primarily by children, design was important.

Ralph Goodall, the chief design engineer for the city’s street department, recommended the project for the Phoenix Arts Commission’s One Percent Program, which sets aside 1 percent of the city’s capital budget for the arts. The commission approved the recommendation and produced three design concepts: a grasshopper, a desert flower and a saguaro, a cactus native to the region.

“We were debating on whether or not to build a bridge that cars could pass over too,” Goodall says. “But we decided that all we really needed was a pedestrian bridge. The cars could drive through the water without too much of a problem.

“It was the children we were primarily concerned about,” he notes. “Some of the children were really too small to be wading through a foot of water. Not to mention that once they got to the other side, they would have to remain at school all day in wet clothes.”

At a public meeting, the grasshopper prevailed, drawing 85 percent of the residents’ votes because of its playful look and appeal to children. The concrete bridge deck also features 135 sandblasted and stained images of various desert creatures such as insects, lizards and tortoises, which are roughly 1/16 to 1/8 inches deep.

The construction of the unique structure required several areas of expertise. The grasshopper bridge was designed by Jerry Cannon of Cannon & Associates, Phoenix. Sandvick Equipment & Supply Co., Phoenix, detailed the steel structure, while general contractor J. Banidki Construction installed the massive structure in its final resting place. Once the bridge was in place, other work included 1,860 square feet of new concrete sidewalks, underground electrical work for bridge and area lights and an anti-graffiti coating.

“I have learned a lot about steel bridge fabrication detail over the years,” Goodall says. “This bridge was detailed extensively during design to ensure we would get a good, clean, sensible design with all of the details well thought out in advance. I have studied and worked on the design of a number of pedestrian and roadway bridges for the last 18 years in Phoenix, and I have never seen one quite like this. I believe it will be an excellent example of how art can beautifully and playfully be incorporated into infrastructure function.”

James Matteson, director of Phoenix Street Transportation, dedicated the bridge to thepublic on Dec. 13, 1997. Approximately 150 residents turned out for the ribbon- cutting ceremony.