SGA designed and provided construction support for the American Tobacco Trail Bridge in Durham, NC, which closes a critical gap in the East Coast Greenway and supports a nearly 3,000-mile urban greenway for bike/ped travel between major cities of the Atlantic Coast. The bridge’s concrete stressed-ribbon deck and steel arch are delicate in form and light in color, which contrasts with the freeway corridor and changing seasonal hues of the surrounding arboreal landscape.

With a deck length of 286 feet, the bridge is the longest hybrid stressed-ribbon span in North America. Taking advantage of the project site’s symmetrical topography, SGA designed the structure to self-anchor its low-profile dual arches, eliminating the need for a heavy foundation system. To maximize an open and airy user experience, while meeting strict fencing requirements of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, SGA designed a custom fence system that used cable supports and exceptionally long spacing of verticals to improve visual access. Additionally, the lens-shaped design of the bridge deck, which widens towards the center, further minimizes the fence’s visual tunneling effect and complements the tendency of users to pause halfway to take in the view. At night, lighting in the fence and railing supports creates a rhythmic pattern on the deck as users pass over the traffic below.