Sky Bridge Gets Approval

The Salt Lake City Planning Commission has approved a controversial plan to build a sky bridge for pedestrians as part of a new mixed use development.

2 minute read

January 24, 2008, 10:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


"By a 6-3 vote Wednesday, the commission forwarded a positive recommendation to the City Council for a sky bridge to span Main Street at 50 South. But instead of selling the air rights above Main, the commission recommended a lease to be tied to the life of the LDS Church's 25-acre retail and residential project."

"In a separate vote, the commission unanimously approved the overall site plan for City Creek, scheduled for completion in late 2011."

"Debate raged more than four hours before the approval, which comes with a series of amendments for the City Council to consider before taking the ultimate vote. Planners want the council to consider the degree of transparency on the glass for the 130-foot bridge. Right now, the design calls for etched grass on the sides to resemble foliage by the side of a creek. The skywalk, which has escalators to the street on each end, also has glass panels that open above-head and completely clear glass in the center to provide optimum views."

"Even so, commissioners argued about a 'conundrum' - that is, voting on language drafted by the City Council with built-in 'contradictions.' How can there be minimal interruption to the view corridor, for instance, when the sky bridge includes architectural and artistic elements? What's more, the commission struggled with the notion that retail accessibility be maximized - essentially through a pedestrian bridge - while the vibrancy of the street life be maintained."

Thursday, January 24, 2008 in The Salt Lake Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight