CSX Railroad Bridge Beauty Contest & Navigation Primer

We moved to Grant Park and I've got railroad problems. I need quick ways, a pretty ways, interesting ways to cross the tracks.

Kind of fun for Architecture Tourists.


Let me show you.


Hill Street has a bit of a cornice, mosaics, and classical detailing with sidewalk colonnades.


Grant Street looks all minimal with the MLK Station's cantilever in the composition. There are usually walkers and bikers heading to MARTA and frequent urban campers. Wide unprotected sidewalks.


Boulevard has a grand run-up with Oakland Cemetery, Carrol Street, and the Bag Mill. The bridge's interaction with Dekalb Avenue featutes real pedestrian danger. Add MOMO's  multi-tagged nearly ruined mural. It's the bridge of history, industry and drama.


Krog Street in a class by itself, pedestrians protected on a raised colonnaded balcony. There are usually people there and the view changes. When this opens as the BeltLine, who knows?


Moreland Avenue is US Route 23 and Georgia 42 with all the rights and privileges that pertain. The closest bridge to big box commerce and Five Guys. It has its own rush hour.


Oakdale Road / Whitefoord Avenue has its own MARTA station and TOD (Transportation Oriented Development) construction galore. Was one of my secret pre-move shortcuts but it's getting busy at rush hour with it's sneaky back way into the Edgewood Shopping Center.


Arizona Avenue is the bridge that's not like the others, industrial on one side and big wall on the other. Plus Hense and Lemon Lane.


Dekalb Place / Rocky Ford is the first gateway between Lake Claire and Kirkwood / Oakhurst.


East Lake Drive has it's own MARTA station and water tower and hey, we're in Decatur.

The tracks follow Dekalb Avenue:


Thanks.

Jaw Drop: Emory's new Marble Clad Brumley Bridge is a Drive-Thru

I'd seen the steel structure go up and thought, "Cool, a bridge." But university building is so common who pays attention?

 
So on this gloomy Saturday morning I was driving to Jonathan LaCross's Shutze Lecture. I turned down Haygood Drive in front of Druid Hills High School.

THEY COVERED THE BRIDGE WITH MARBLE!! I hope it's Georgia marble, a theme for Emory's buildings. By by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP (ZGF).

"A working bridge connecting a new Health Sciences Research Building to the Emory-Children's Center will be named in memory of George W. Brumley, MD." - Emory University News July 28, 2011

I guess folks will work on the bridge. That sounds good to me. 


The clerestory look and overhanging roof in the building to the left is a theme for Emory's more modern buildings.

See it when you are in the neighborhood. It's a drive-through.


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If there is a grand opening / ribbon cutting, let's go.

10' WILL NOT CLEAR, the great arched bridge on Ponce

It's not quite as grand (or pink) as the Red Bridge Over Ormewood Avenue in Grant Park Atlanta. It makes for a grand entrance to Decatur to the east or to Druid Hills to the west. Don't drive your tall truck in the outside lanes. "10' WILL NOT CLEAR"

The Atlanta Botanical Garden bridge that didn't collapse

We didn't even know they were building a new pedestrian bridge at Piedmont Park until it collapsed. We thought it was this one. We'd crossed it several times with our children.

Red Bridge Over Ormewood Avenue in Grant Park Atlanta

The Ormewood Avenue Bridge is certainly one the most beautiful bridges in Atlanta. It's a railroad bridge in Grant Park, part of the Atlanta BeltLine. A tall red arch, it's not on the way to anywhere these days. You've probably never seen it. Don't miss it if you are in the East Atlanta, Grant Park, or the Zoo.

Drive west on Ormewood from Boulevard at Grant Park.