First there was the Millennium Bridge, and then the Platte River Pedestrian Bridge. The Highland Bridge, the third and final link in connecting Downtown with the historic Highland neighborhood, reached a milestone this weekend as its dramatic white arch spanning the highway below was set in place. As promised, today’s blog looks back at the exciting activities this weekend at 16th and Central. Enjoy.

Friday:

1. 11:08 PM: Cars on I-25 zip past the west bridge anchor as crews prepare for the night’s activities and the arch segment waits on a truck nearby.
2. 11:35 PM: Workers prepare the bridge anchor as Downtown looms in the background.
3. 12:04 AM: With southbound I-25 now closed, the arch segment is lifted off the truck.
4. 12:29 AM: The arch segment rises higher after getting flipped over into its correct position.

5. 12:30 AM: Swinging it around.
6. 12:38 AM: Up and over the support frame.
7. 12:51 AM: Almost there.
8. 12:55 AM: Just a little more to the right…

Several hours later, the west anchor arch was securely in place.

Saturday:

1. 11:00 PM: Both anchor segments are in place as the evening’s work get underway.
2. 11:46 PM: The center arch segment arrives by truck.
3. 12:27 AM: Flipping it over.
4. 12:49 AM: Up it goes.

5. 01:02 AM: Rotating it around as part of the crowd of about 100 look on.
6. 01:04 AM: Getting ready to attach the segments at the west end.
7. 01:20 AM: Taken from the 15th Street bridge, work continues attaching the west end as the east end floats free.
8. 01:31 AM: Downtown shines behind the new icon of Northwest Denver.

Work continued throughout the morning and by Sunday afternoon, I-25 had been reopened with the arch entirely secured. The Highland Bridge is scheduled to open in November, 2006.