1. What was your role in this project?
   HNTB is the engineer of record for the cable-stayed pedestrian bridges. During the planning phase of the riverfront project, Kurt Skinner, then with Law-Kingdon, came to the conclusion that the project required pedestrian bridges to allow access across the river. HNTB was hired to assist in a concept study to develop feasible and cost-effective solutions. A variety of bridge concepts were evaluated. Ultimately the cable-stayed type was selected due to its visual impact and longer span capability.

2. Why did you want to work on this project?
   It was an exciting project because of the redevelopment of the area. We felt that these bridges would add a great dimension of the overall project. The cable-stayed bridge design was suitable for the site. We love to work on complex projects and these bridges were certainly that.

3. What do you think is most interesting about the bridges?
   Cable-stayed pedestrian bridges tend to be flexible structures. A challenging component of the design performance were the analyses of the bridges to determine their dynamic properties and movements under pedestrian loads, and fine-tuning the designs so the bridge movements will be are hardly noticeable. For example, a group of runners crossing the bridge and running in lock-step could create movements that are uncomfortable to pedestrians. Our analyses modeled this phenomenon and the design was modified as needed. In addition, we also performed wind tunnel testing to ensure that the bridge cross-section was not prone to undesirable movements. In fact, the bridges have special tuned mass dampeners installed below the deck to absorb some of the movement if there are lots of runners or walkers across the bridge. This analysis was a key part of engineering on this project.

4. Was there a time when you said "What have I gotten myself into?" If yes, when?
   No. We never felt that way. This project was incredible!

5. What are you most proud of?
   The aesthetics and performance of the bridge is what we are most proud of. The final product was constructed as we envisioned and it’s performing as expected.

BIO
William Clawson, P.E., Ph.D., is the Vice President and Director of HNTB’s Kansas City Bridge Department. He is also HNTB’s Central Division representative to the Bridge and Tunnel service group. Bill has managed many bridge design projects during his career and currently serves as principal-in-charge of the bridge projects in his office. In Wichita, Bill was the lead structural engineer for the Kellogg CBD Viaduct, the John Mack/S. Broadway bridge over the Arkansas River,and several bridges on the K-96 Bypass.

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