toledoblade.com --

Much lauded for its design and engineering, Toledo's Veterans' Glass City Skyway can soon boast that it is award-winning scenery.

The nonprofit organization Scenic Ohio is to present the Ohio Department of Transportation's district office in Bowling Green with a framed award Saturday for the I-280 bridge for enhancing the state's "scenic resources" with its artful crossing of the Maumee River.

The reasons could be easy to see for the nearly 70,000 motorists who travel the bridge each day, ascending to a dramatic skyline panorama of Toledo and its neighbors.

And the cable-stayed bridge itself, with its iconic 440-foot central pylon with more than 380 LED lights, is a worthy aesthetic addition to the landscape, said Gary Meisner, chairman of Scenic Ohio. Form enhances function in the $237 million piece of infrastructure, which opened in June, 2007.

"In today's world, getting things done that are functional is hard. But getting things done that are functional and artistic - that's an additional step," Mr. Meisner said.

Also to be honored Saturday is the Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor Inc., as two of this year's three Scenic Ohio Awards go to northwest Ohio.

The organization is recognizing the corridor group for helping to gain official designation 10 years ago for the Maumee Valley Scenic Byway, a 60-mile expanse of highway on both sides of the Maumee River between Defiance and Toledo. It is also being recognized for helping with the National Park Service designation for Fallen Timbers Battlefield in Maumee and Fort Miamis, and promoting the Maumee River.

Dick Kudner, board president of the corridor group, said his organization appreciates the recognition and is currently working with transportation department to place "Maumee River" signs on the Skyway.

"When you cross a big body of water, invariably you say to yourself, "I wonder what that is?'•" Mr. Kudner said.

Mr. Meisner said Scenic Ohio's board members and advisers chose the Skyway bridge from among 10 or so nominations. The awards are to be presented at the governor's residence in Bexley, which is surrounded by Columbus. Ohio's First Lady Frances Strickland will be in attendance.

"You think aesthetics with buildings and landscapes a little bit more than you do with bridges, but the new generation of cable-stay bridges are very artful," he said. "There's no other bridge like it in Ohio."

Spokesman Theresa Pollick said the transportation department feels honored and believes the bridge is deserving. The Skyway has received at least eight awards for aesthetics and engineering, according to its designer, Figg Engineering Group.

"The Skyway itself represents the history of the Glass City as well as the future of transportation," she said.

Contact JC Reindl at:
jreindl@theblade.com
or 419-724-6065.

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