Horseshoe Casino Cleveland is ringing in 2014 in style by opening its new $7 million pedestrian skywalk one week ahead of schedule at 12 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
The glass-enclosed skywalk spans 175 feet diagonally across the intersection of Ontario Street and Prospect Avenue, linking the Horseshoe’s valet and self-parking Collection Auto Group Centre parking garage to the second floor of the casino.
“This skywalk is very special because it answers the call of our guests who have requested a direct connection to the casino from our parking garage,” said Marcus Glover, senior vice president and general manager of Horseshoe Casino Cleveland. “It gives guests the option of avoiding harsh weather and crossing a busy intersection.”
The walkway sits 16 ft., 8 in. above street level, a height approved by the Ohio Department of Transportation. A 3,300-square-foot lobby greets guests on the second floor of the parking garage with plush furniture, coat check and a coffee station.
While elegant and convenient, the skywalk is also unique in several ways.
- Its diagonal shape crosses two major downtown streets, an accomplishment made by only a handful of skywalks across the country.
- Traffic lights for the Ontario/Prospect intersection rest on the side of the skywalk, providing a clear view for motorists and a more aesthetically pleasing intersection. Horseshoe worked closely with the city of Cleveland to create this engineering feat.
- 80% of the skywalk was built on the street, then hoisted into place over the intersection.
- The skywalk is one of a few in the country that spans an entire intersection without intermediate support, eliminating disruption on the streets and sidewalks.
- It has a dedicated HVAC unit to enable the skywalk to remain climate controlled year round.
For guests who wish to use the casino’s street-side entrances on Public Square or Prospect, existing elevators and two new escalators installed in the parking garage will take guests to the street level of the parking garage.
