Pedestrian overpasses separate foot traffic from vehicles, improving safety and reducing traffic disruptions. They may have ramps for accessibility and can be artistic. Las Vegas installed several to remove foot traffic from congested streets.
A pedestrian overpass, also called an overpass, is a bridge or structure that prevents pedestrian traffic from mixing with vehicular traffic. By elevating footbridges around or around vehicular roads, traffic flow is not impeded by pedestrian traffic lights and crosswalks. Pedestrian overpasses also provide a means of safety for travelers on foot, as they are separated from fast-moving and often dangerous traffic.
Before the days of eight-lane highways and high-speed roads, pedestrian traffic commonly traveled along the roads, often sharing space with vehicles. During the 20th century, with the exponential increase in vehicular traffic, pedestrian safety and the reduction of traffic disruptions have become important issues in urban and road planning. Crossings with crosswalks slow down traffic and create hazards for walking.
In urban areas that were already short on space, the idea of building completely separate pedestrian paths was often unattainable. To save space, pedestrian overpasses have become a compromise between pedestrian safety and the unimpeded flow of traffic. A pedestrian overpass may directly cross busy roads, in some cases as the only means of crossing busy highways or roads on foot.
One concern in designing a pedestrian overpass is ensuring its accessibility to a wide variety of pedestrian traffic. Many are built with spiral ramps rather than stairs to accommodate people with disabilities, such as those in wheelchairs. A pedestrian overpass may also have special lanes or ramps for people using bicycles, golf carts, or other small vehicles that cannot be taken on large roadways. Other flyovers are actually tunnels under a roadway built to allow the passage of local wildlife.
Most pedestrian overpasses are made of heavy concrete or steel, built with function in mind rather than artistic appeal. However, some take into consideration the unique opportunity of architecture when designing and constructing flyovers. Skyways, which are a type of pedestrian overpass that connects buildings, can be as ornate and artistic as major bridges. Some feature reinforced glass walls and even floors for spectacular views, while others have inspired architecture that provides innovative optical illusions.
One city that has taken the use of pedestrian overpasses to heart is the bustling tourist destination of Las Vegas, Nevada. Traffic is a constant problem along the famed Las Vegas Strip, with pedestrians and cars historically mingling as people eagerly gaze at the gleaming casinos and hotels that line the main street. In 1999, Las Vegas city officials began installing several pedestrian overpasses along the strip to remove foot traffic from the already congested streets, thus making it easier for both cars and pedestrians to pass.
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