peter11435
Well-Known Member
It was. But a new ramp has been built that replaces it.
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DHS DHS Parking lot remodel and expansion
- Thread starter roj2323
- Start date
danlb_2000
Premium Member
kthomas105
Well-Known Member
I am not a road engineer so I don’t fully understand the reason they wanted to remove the bridge. The new ramp achieves the same thing as the old ramp with the bridge. I understand, because of the new DHS entrance, the bridge is superfluous As no traffic needs to cross the ramp any longer. With that said wouldn’t it be fine to leave it that way until the bridge ages out? I get the advantage of removing the bridge provides a straighter approach ramp without an incline or decline but it just seems like a lot of work for no substantial reason, again based on my own (non-engineering) opinion.
Magic Feather
Well-Known Member
Previously, there were two ramps right next to each other: the first, cast member only access for DHS, and the second, access to World Drive. Guests frequently took the wrong ramp, leading to a 10 min headache for the guests and cast. Now, with the Star Wars Hotel about to use a very similar access area, it was deemed better to streamline all three into one ramp.
WDWtraveler
Well-Known Member
Photo update as of early May 2020. An extra large berm has appeared where the original Hollywood Studios car entrance (and overpass) was located.
Monorail_Red_77
Well-Known Member
My guesss would be a berm is easier to hide all the backstage stuff there that is open viewing, especially with the bridge gone now. Maybe plant some trees and shrubs in it also, make it a nice landscaped berm and it will soon look like it has always been there. Typical Disney work.
HauntedMansionFLA
Well-Known Member
When does the construction of the parking garages begin??
Twirlnhurl
Well-Known Member
Removing the bridge has two advantages:
(1) All roadway bridges have to be inspected periodically for structural integrity and maintained. These inspections and any required maintenance are not free, so minimizing the exposure to these expenses may be a prudent way to reduce the impact that the other new bridges across the property were having on the RCID and Disney balance sheets.
(2) The bridge had relatively steep approaches with sharp turns. In particular, the vertical curvature of the road provided shorter sight lines to drivers than were appropriate for the speeds that the bridge was commonly driven over at. Drivers are much worse at giving themselves adequate stopping distances on vertical curves than horizontal curves. So rear-end collisions may have been more likely on that ramp than the new design.
Finally, I would imagine that the cost of removing this bridge now, as a part of the overall intersection reconstruction, is cheaper than doing it at a later date in its own project.
trainplane3
Well-Known Member
You're around seven years behind.When does the construction of the parking garages begin??
HauntedMansionFLA
Well-Known Member
Yes, I remember when insiders said Disney was building parking garages and around four phases of new lands. I guess plans got changed.
Now beyond the Star Wars Hotel, DHS won’t see much.
Two three story garages.
peter11435
Well-Known Member
... and an expanded parking lot, new auto plaze, new entrance and exit interchange, new bus loop, skyliner station, redesigned security, toy story land, galaxies edge, runaway railway, and a number of smaller projects around the park.
CastAStone
5th gate? Just build a new resort Bob.
And Lightning McQueen
peter11435
Well-Known Member
I considered that part of the “number of smaller projects.”
CastAStone
5th gate? Just build a new resort Bob.
You must not have two young sons
WDWtraveler
Well-Known Member
Photo update as of May 22, 2020. The extra large berm where the original Hollywood Studios car entrance (and overpass) was located is completed, with an erosion cover. With the addition of some plants and trees, the back side of Hollywood Studios will be completely hidden from World Drive. However, you will still be able to see that from the exit ramp from Osceola Parkway to World Drive, as that ramp is on the other side of this berm.
Additionally, Disney has begun to transplant some of the huge oak trees from around the old Richard Petty Driving Experience Speedway to various places near this berm and around the Osceola Parkway / Hollywood Studios entrance interchange. The big oak trees in their new locations look like they have always been there, which is the object.
The view of the berm from the other side (Osceola Parkway to World Drive).....ho hum. Just grass for now.
Additionally, Disney has begun to transplant some of the huge oak trees from around the old Richard Petty Driving Experience Speedway to various places near this berm and around the Osceola Parkway / Hollywood Studios entrance interchange. The big oak trees in their new locations look like they have always been there, which is the object.
The view of the berm from the other side (Osceola Parkway to World Drive).....ho hum. Just grass for now.
EPCOTCenterLover
Well-Known Member
Is this to hide the exposed backside of Galaxys Edge? Not sure of where this is.
World Drive.