Judy Bales designed decorative elements to retrofit onto the Cedar View Bridge, helping to soften the very industrial appearance of the bridge. The art elements are fabricated from Cor-Ten steel, a metal that self-oxidizes, forming a protective coat of rust over time. The patina of rust will help visually integrate the bridge into the beautiful wooded environment.
Local volunteers install
Cor-Ten steel designs to
existing chain link structure.
The steel elements are stylized "tree-forms." Four tree-form designs repeat throughout the length of the bridge, with more elaborate shapes at the wings approaching the bridge. Bales designed the art elements to be firmly attached to the structure yet not obstruct the view of the creek and woodlands.
Additional plans to enhance this bridge include openings in the
chain link for easier viewing of the creek as well as prairie
grasses and flagstone pavers at the approaches.
The project was funded in part by a grant from the
National Endowment for the Arts.
