Underside of Detroit-Superior Bridge is as dope as advertised
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The concrete and steel palace beneath the Detroit-Superior Bridge. Photo: Sam Allard/Axios
One of the region's most underutilized and visually striking spaces will be open to the public this weekend.
Driving the news: Visitors can traverse the historic underside of the Veterans Memorial (Detroit-Superior) bridge Friday 4-11pm and Saturday noon-11pm.
Catch up quick: County Executive Chris Ronayne has championed re-opening the bridge's lower level as a park and multi-modal transit pathway — Cleveland's answer to New York's "High Line."
- Streetcars operated there from 1918 to 1954.
- In recent years, the county and nonprofit partners have periodically opened the lower level for events and tours.
Zoom in: The space will feature an exhibit by technical artist Chuck Karnak.
- His "Go Dream" exhibit will enliven the space with 120 fabric "sails" suspended along and throughout the bridge, colorfully lit and accompanied by a soundscape of digital and live musical performances.
- Karnak is an in-demand local lighting designer and audio engineer for festivals and events. He previously managed the Ingenuity Festival, which occupied the bridge in 2010 and 2011.
The latest: In March, the county received a $7 million federal grant for a feasibility study and an engineering plan to reimagine the bridge.
What they're saying: "It's a visually appealing space," Annie Pease, Cuyahoga County's senior advisor on transportation, tells Axios.
- "And it especially resonates with Clevelanders. The streetcars and the river and the lake are such a part of the city's story. This is an infrastructure asset that's telling that visual story and connecting us to our history."
By the numbers: Roughly 9,000 people visited the bridge during a rediscovery weekend in 2023, per Pease, and the county is anticipating greater numbers this weekend.
Stop by: Self-guided bridge tours will be free and open to the public, but attendees must sign a waiver.
Zoom out: The Rediscover Veterans Memorial Bridge event is part of Cleveland History Days.
- Through June 30, visitors can participate in more than 50 tours, lectures, and other events celebrating the city's history.