This pedestrian bridge connects the University of Puerto Rico campus with the University High School campus.

While the bridge was more likely built at the same time as University High School (UHS) and may have originally served this institution more than the university itself, UHS has now shifted its entrance to serve a more automobile-oriented society and access to the bridge requires an unnecessary detour. This has in turn, shifted its use away from the high school students who won’t feel the desire to walk a little more to get to the bridge.

The bridge still connects the university to Río Piedras’s urban center. Student dorms are not necessarily near this bridge. In my experience its purpose has been shifting away from utility to a small landmark visible to cars to the extent of which Art Deco influence reached in all of Puerto Rico. Maintenance is minimal. The bridge could use some nice Art Deco illumination, even if the original design did not include it, as this would definitely grab the attention of drivers.

It can still serve a great purpose if Río Piedras’s urban renewal produces results we can perceive.

Do you know something about this bridge? Email me at artdecopr@gmail.com