Early in 2014, the
Universal Orlando Resort will debut its fourth hotel, the value-priced
Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Located on the corner of Turkey Lake Road and Hollywood Way, the new hotel will feature a retro 1960's theme, lazy river, and 10-lane bowling alley. But unlike Universal's first three hotels, it will not offer water taxi service to the theme parks and CityWalk. Instead, a pedestrian bridge will be built to help guests travel across Hollywood way, and yesterday the first concept art and plans leaked for the innovative "green bridge" that Universal will be building.
Green Roof Technology released on their website (and then quietly removed) concept art and a press release announcing their "Garden Bridge" project for Universal Orland. Described as "the first of its kind in Florida," the 145' long bridge features "s
elected ground covers, shrubs" and a gently-sloping wheelchair-accessible approach that will "escort pedestrians almost without notice that they are crossing over a busy highway."
The project has been controversial because of special taxing district funds that Universal is taking advantage of to build it, but at least the project appears to be aesthetically and ecologically sensitive. One final note: construction is slated to start early 2014, which is surprising close to the hotel's first-quarter soft-opening.
