Springfield Illinois' Bridge to Nowhere

Nestled between the City of Springfield Illinois' Municipal Building, and the Police Department can be found a Bridge to Nowhere.

This public space simply begs out for repair - NOT!

The pedestrian bridge was always an awful, cheap looking structure. The symbolism of the bridge was always suspect. It looks out of place, and always did.



Ugly, oh yes. There's a much better version of this bridge in the movie, The Planet of the Apes!

As the rest of downtown Springfield is getting a sorely needed revamp, what with the opening of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, this public space begs to be put to use.

The entire "plaza" that runs south of the Bridge to Nowhere could become an inviting civic space. This area is situated just north of Capitol Street across the street from the Lincoln Home area on Seventh Street.



My recommendation is to tear down The Bridge to Nowhere, and erect a very large bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, perhaps on a horse, surrounded by a modern well lighted fountain. The key here is to make sure that the fountain, and statue can be seen all the way from the Historic Lincoln Home Area on Seventh Street.

The horrible modern art sculture on the "plaza" running between Capitol Street, and The Bridge to Nowhere needs to be donated to some other town or city with poor taste - or perhaps it can be sold for scrap if no one will take it.

Although the treelined "plaza" corridor between Capitol Street, and The Bridge to Nowhere is often used by hobo's taking naps, and lunch time brown baggers from the Municipal Building, and the Springfield Police Department the space is poorly designed, and greatly underused.



This public space should be opened up, and turned into an invitation to explore the City of Springfield using the proposed statue of Lincoln and fountain to reach out to those visiting the Lincoln Home Historic Area.

I've included some disgraceful photos of The Bridge to Nowhere in this post, I sure hope I haven't offended anyone in doing so for it is so darned ugly!

Note the rust on the warning sign? It has been "temporarily" closed for years. The plaques on the hideous structure itself are unreadable to those still interested. To what could The Bridge to Nowhere be dedicated? Civic neglect perhaps.