Artist’s rendering
The amazing Grand Canyon Skywalk, or Glass Bridge, is an open air walkway, with glass walls and floor, suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River in Grand Canyon West’s Eagle Point. The U-shape extends 70 feet over the rim. Visitors paying $25 will experience a breathtaking visual and visceral experience of the Grand Canyon. The Official Public Opening is scheduled for March 28, 2007. Word is Buzz Aldrin, famed Apollo 11 astronaut, will be one of the first to make the historic walk on March 20th.
Constructed using one million pounds of steel, the bridge can hold the weight of 71 fully loaded Boeing 747s (about 71 million lbs.) and withstand 100+ mph winds. The attraction is on Hualapia Tribe land. The 2,000 member tribe owns nearly one million acres thoughout the Grand Canyon’s western rim. The capitol of the reservation is in Peach Springs, Arizona. Tribe members will be first to walk the bridge on March 19th.
The Skywalk’s $30 million construction, begun in 2004, was financed by Las Vegas businessman David Jin, who will share in the profits. The cantilevered Skywalk was designed by MRJ Architects, using structural glass manufactured in Germany. They installed shock absorbers in the floor to keep it from wobbling while visitors walk on it. Hopefully, they also installed hand rails capable of withstanding the death-like grip of the sure to be pertrified skywalkers.
Grand Canyon Skywalk website here.
Additional News Source: Asbury Park Press (via AP)
Technorati Tags: Grand Canyon, Skywalk, Glass Bridge, Sellsius, Hualapai
What’s next — bungee jumping off this bridge?
Base Jumping too?
My stomach dropped READING this post. I, personally, am not happy about this at all… I’m planning on going to the Grand Canyon this summer and really don’t want to have to walk out on a glass walkway suspended 4,000 ft above the Earth (but know I will be forced to)… But the video on the website does a pretty good job at discussing the construction and business deals involved in the creation of this walkway. Great article btw.
We wonder what the ramificiations are on other natural wonders. Will we see a glass walkway across Niagara Falls?
I wish there was bungee action. My family and I are going in April. And Sellsius, you are right: they are going to constantly be fighting base jumpers who won’t be able to resist.
I thank this gaurantees I will never visit this part of the grand canyon.