The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge has generated its share of controversy as part of the city’s efforts to dress up the humble, mud-hued Trinity River. But it’s built; it’s striking in scale, design, and beauty; and you might as well get used to it. When those lights flipped on for the first time in January, illuminating the bridge’s 58 cables and 40-story arch, all was forgotten – the politics, the delays, the high costs.
Make your peace with the bridge in a memorable way on March 3 and 4, when you’ll get your last chance to set foot on the soaring, shape-shifting structure, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, before it opens to car traffic. The city has invited everyone to join in a huge street fair on the bridge, as well as a “non-traditional ribbon-cutting” the next day. Then your historic opportunity to experience Dallas’ newest icon ends, possibly forever.
With its steel arch manufactured and assembled in Italy, then shipped to Houston via cargo ship, trucked to Dallas and re-assembled, the six-lane, .366-mile Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge – named for the renowned civic leader – connects Woodall Rodgers Freeway to Singleton Boulevard in West Dallas.
Festivities on Saturday, March 3, begin at 8am with the 8th Annual Trinity River Levee Run. Starting at noon and going till 9pm, your children can party at the free street fair on top of the bridge. Costumed performers, local bands, dancers, sidewalk artists, food trucks, the “Parade of Builders” and more will keep the kids entertained, but the biggest attraction is having the bridge right under your feet. Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights will perform just before a fireworks finale.
On Sunday, March 4, get up early for a Sunrise Blessing on the bridge at 6:50am – followed by a ribbon-cutting at 7:30am, conducted by hundreds of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, with music by Orchestra of New Spain.
On the West Dallas side, the Bridge-o-Rama runs at the same time as the official celebration and threatens to put the edge in the festivities. On Saturday, your kids will want to be on the bridge at 1pm for the Parade of Giants – with 10-foot-tall puppets in the likenesses of Dallas historical figures such as Bonnie and Clyde.
