FrontBurner Archives

Bless the Downtown Dallas Tunnels, and Skyways

By Jason Heid | August 5, 2011|1:46 pm

I’ve walked by this architectural oddity (at right) Â jutting out of the side of the Spurgeon Harris building in downtown Dallas hundreds of times since D Magazine World Headquarters relocated in fall 2009. Usually the weather is far too decent for me to think anything other than “what the hell is that?” as I go by.

But today I was inspired by the continuous extreme heat to do something more. I was certain that I was somehow being a sucker for walking all the way down to one of my favored lunch spots near Thanksgiving Square while exposed to the sun’s onslaught. I was certain there must be a better way. And there is.

Today, for the first time, I discovered the missing link. I discovered this link in much the same way that Columbus discovered America. Because my colleagues and I were ignorant of it, I believe I have a right to claim it as our own. Regardless of how many Dallas office drones have tread upon it before.

For this strange structure is part of the skyway that made it possible for me to go nearly the entire distance between Thanksgiving Tower and the garage directly across from our office without suffering heat stroke. (And Krista will be able to walk home indoors, assuming she can leave here during business hours.) As portions of the tunnels cannot accurately be described as featuring “air-conditioned comfort,” I’m looking forward even more to using this system when it’s pouring rain. If 1600 Pacific weren’t closed, I could get all the way to the Bank of America building and back.

Vibrant street life be damned. We need our tunnels.

Urbanism

Woodall Rodgers Deck Park To Feature Jet Engines

By Tim Rogers | August 4, 2011|12:48 pm

I had no idea. From an email update on construction of The Park:

With its cross-beams nearly 80 percent complete, construction of The Park is on schedule for its fall 2012 opening.
Crews have installed 252 of the 316 concrete crossbeams that span the 5.2-acre deck park and the final beams are expected to be placed in October. Meanwhile, construction crews have completed 40 percent of the waterproofing the deck needs to ensure water does not seep through the concrete and into the tunnel once complete.
“As the deck nears completion, North Texans are in for an extraordinary sight,” said Linda Owen, president of the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation. “Soon we’ll see the arrival of trees and plants, lawns and trellis, and it will be unmistakably clear what a transformational space our community has created.”
Improvements are also being made to the newly-created tunnel for drivers travelling underneath the deck park. In October, workers will complete the installation of 32 jet fans that will be monitored and controlled by computers at all times to protect air quality. In addition to the jet engines, drivers travelling on Woodall Rodgers Freeway will also notice the eastbound Pearl Street exit has been reopened. The exit closed last December as a safety precaution at the beginning of construction.
Dallas residents aren’t the only ones getting a new view of The Park. The Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, which oversees the development and programming for The Park, relocated to a space overlooking The Park last week. Its new home will also serve as a meeting space for volunteers and programming partners.

One brand, four magazines.