By Oliver Clark.
Denver International Airport has rejected a plan to span its Pe├▒a Boulevard highway with a dramatic arcing brige designed by architect Santiago Calatrava because of its $22 million price tag and has instead chosen a basic design costing a fraction of the price.
The rail bridge, which was to have been a "visual and symbolic gateway for travelers" will now be built to a basic design costing just $1.4 million and funded by Denver rail operator the Regional Transportation District (RDA).
"Mr Calatrava designed a stunning gateway element that would've been the envy of other cities and airports around the world. However, our first and foremost responsibilty is to maintain the fiscal strength of this airport, and investing $20 million in this structure is just not the best use of our capital," said Kim Day, CEO of Denver Airport.
Patrick Heck, CFO of Denver Airport said he was "personally dissappointed" that the project was not going ahead, but cited the fact that the Calatrava bridge was not going generate any revenue and was therefore an unnecessary expense.
The rail bridge will be a key section of a new 24 mile light rail line connecting the airport to downtown Denver that is due to open in 2016, it forms a part of Denver Airport's wider $500 million South Terminal Redevelopment Program, which includes the construction of a train station, a Gensler designed, 500-room Westin Hotel, conference facilites and plaza, designed to help maxmise non-aeronautical revenue generation at the gateway.
