PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE PROJECT IN NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
DURING WINTER OYLMPICS

(Wilkes-Barre, PA) - The Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, UT served as the venue for a wealth of high-spirited competition, athletic excellence and international fellowship.  It also was the site for the debut of the Wasatch Drive Pedestrian Service Bridge, a unique structure constructed to provide a safe and convenient walkway for both athletes and visitors over Wasatch Drive, on the campus of the University of Utah.

Through its client, Houston Structures Incorporated of Houston, TX, Bridon American Corporation provided the structural strand for the support cables used throughout the bridge’s construction.

According to Phil Young, Operations Manager for Bridon American, "The Wasatch Drive Pedestrian Service Bridge project was a very unique project in which to be involved.  Not only was it obviously exciting because of the Olympic association, but also because it truly turned out to be an incredibly magnificent structure.  It is definitely one of those premier projects in which Bridon American has been proud to be associated."

Started in the spring of 2001, the cable stayed designed bridge measures over 340 feet in length and features an insulated and heated deck to withstand the snow and ice of Salt Lake City.  Located on the campus of the University of Utah, the bridge was comissioned by the Salt Lake Olympic Committee to provide a safe and easily accessible means for pedestrian traffic between the various events and new visitor dorms.  In spite of a very tight production timeframe, the bridge was completed on schedule in late October, 2001.

Commenting on the overall project, Jerry Clodfelter, Project Manager for Houston Structures Incorporated stated, "Our company was primarily responsible for the design of the cable fittings, the supervision of the cable installation and the final tensioning of the cables. On a project like this that requires precise measurements with very little tolerance for error, there was no question that our partner was going to be Bridon American.   They are our primary source for structural strand due in large part to their high standards of quality and accuracy."

Bridon, an international leader in wire rope and strand manufacturing, is a member of the Bridon Group of companies whose products are sold in over 60 countries worldwide. Bridon’s focus on superior quality and innovation throughout the industry has lead them to work together with equipment manufactures, distributors, and operators to develop a portfolio of products designed specifically for the various customers the organization serves. It is this dedication and commitment that makes the company’s creed of "The Difference is Bridon" more than just a statement, but rather a strong principle reassured daily throughout the Bridon community.

For more information on Bridon American and its many quality products, visit the company’s web site at www.bridonamerican.com.