PERSPECTIVES ON FUTURE HIGHWAY BRIDGE DESIGN: AESTHETICS AND ECONOMICS: WHICH FIRST?

Recently, the public has begun to demand more graceful bridges consisting of more than concrete beams and steel girders. Engineers are now often expected to improve structures both environmentally and aesthetically without destroying urban and suburban natural beauty. Some engineers, however, believe that aesthetic bridges are incompatible with economical design, and fail to realize that modern technology can in fact help produce space and forms that are both beautiful and economical. In fact, aesthetic bridges attained through technology frequently represent the most economical designs as well. Therefore, the question is not which comes first--aesthetics or economics; rather both can be achieved simultaneously. Examples include the proposed Ruck-A-Chucky Bridge over the American River in Auburn, California and the High Bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis-St. Paul, completed in 1983. Unfortunately, the coincidence of aesthetics and economics does not occur with every bridge. On some occasions, a good-looking bridge will cost more, or the most economical bridge will look cheap. In such cases, it is necessary to seek optimum solutions considering both aesthetics and economics--not deciding which comes first, but spending the necessary money to attain the aesthetics judged to be worthwhile.