Shasta County, California Bridges: Sundial Bridge across the Sacramento River (12)

October 2014 (40.5921 Degrees, -122.3775 Degrees) Sundial Bridge

One more photo of the Sundial Bridge. Many of the surfaces on the bridge are covered in a mosaic of broken white porcelain, similar to what was used Antoni Gaudi's Parc Guell in Barcelona (a World Heritage Site). The glass tiles on the deck and the space frame superstructure are an aquamarine. The tower and the rails are a bright white that tends to get overexposed in photos. The tower sits on one side of the river and a flimsy pair of legs sits on the other side of the river. I wonder if the legs are an afterthought because the cables weren't effective at supporting the superstructure on the far side?

Shasta County, California Bridges: Sundial Bridge across the Sacramento River (12) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Shasta County, California Bridges: Sundial Bridge across the Sacramento River (11)

October 2014 (40.5921 Degrees, -122.3775 Degrees) Sundial Bridge

The Sundial Bridge is an unusual bridge which has resulting in a learning curve for the bridge owners and some unusual rules for people using the bridge. A sign has been posted with a list of the many things you can't do on the bridge. Apparently the glass tiles on the deck will break if you drop something on them or if you ride a skateboard on them. I don't know if it's the tiles or the metal trim between the tiles that get's hot from the sun but people, children, and dogs are encouraged to wear shoes on the bridge. I imagine the tiles must get slippery when they're wet, especially if you're riding a bicycle. Perhaps that's why they put a 5 mph speed limit on the bridge. We hear the expression "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones,' but apparently there are even more rules for people on glass bridges.

Shasta County, California Bridges: Sundial Bridge across the Sacramento River (11) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Shasta County, California Bridges: Sundial Bridge across the Sacramento River (10)

October 2014 (40.5921 Degrees, -122.3775 Degrees) Sundial Bridge

Another view of the single tower on the Sundial Bridge. The tower slopes away from the superstructure, which causes the cables to push the load into the earth.  The vector that is pulling the tower forward is counterbalanced by the restoring weight of the tower (and by the fixed bearing).

The 14 cables are attached to the tower with stubby elements resembling the ribs on a fish's vertebrae (although Calatrava said the tower represents to him the movement of a bird in flight).

The ground around the tower is planted with grasses that can survive on drought-like conditions, which the area is currently experiencing. There's a botanical outdoor garden next to the bridge that features plants with low-water needs that can be planted instead of lawns to help conserve water.

Shasta County, California Bridges: Sundial Bridge across the Sacramento River (10) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.