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| Grand Canyon glass bridge to open | Grand Canyon glass bridge to open |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Visitors to the Grand Canyon are to get stunning views from a raised glass platform being inaugurated on Tuesday. | Visitors to the Grand Canyon are to get stunning views from a raised glass platform being inaugurated on Tuesday. |
| Rising 4,000ft (1,220m) from the canyon's floor and 70ft (20m) beyond its rim, the Skywalk is being described as an engineering first. | Rising 4,000ft (1,220m) from the canyon's floor and 70ft (20m) beyond its rim, the Skywalk is being described as an engineering first. |
| The Hualapai Indians, who own the site, are hoping to attract visitors to a high unemployment area. | The Hualapai Indians, who own the site, are hoping to attract visitors to a high unemployment area. |
| But some tribal members say this is a desecration of sacred ground and environmentalists are also concerned. | But some tribal members say this is a desecration of sacred ground and environmentalists are also concerned. |
| Former astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin will be among the first to go onto the walkway. | |
| How the Skywalk measures up to other constructions | How the Skywalk measures up to other constructions |
| Construction of the Skywalk began in March 2004 - and will open to the public on 28 March with 120 people allowed on the platform at any one time. | Construction of the Skywalk began in March 2004 - and will open to the public on 28 March with 120 people allowed on the platform at any one time. |
| The bridge will be able to sustain winds in excess of 100mph (161km/h), as well as an 8.0-magnitude earthquake within 50 miles (80.5km). | The bridge will be able to sustain winds in excess of 100mph (161km/h), as well as an 8.0-magnitude earthquake within 50 miles (80.5km). |
| SKYWALK FACT It can withhold the weight of 71 fully loaded Boeing 747sMore than 1m lbs (45.4 metric tons) of steel was used Aerial views | SKYWALK FACT It can withhold the weight of 71 fully loaded Boeing 747sMore than 1m lbs (45.4 metric tons) of steel was used Aerial views |
| Las Vegas businessman David Jin raised the money to build the Skywalk which will be given to the Hualapai in exchange for a percentage of the profits. | Las Vegas businessman David Jin raised the money to build the Skywalk which will be given to the Hualapai in exchange for a percentage of the profits. |
| "When we have so much poverty and so much unemployment, we have to do something," Sheri Yellowhawk, told the Associated Press news agency. | "When we have so much poverty and so much unemployment, we have to do something," Sheri Yellowhawk, told the Associated Press news agency. |
| "It sounded like a good idea." | "It sounded like a good idea." |
| The BBC's Andy Gallacher says that, for the majority, this is an investment that will bring much needed cash. | The BBC's Andy Gallacher says that, for the majority, this is an investment that will bring much needed cash. |
| But some members of the Hualapai tribe have voiced concerns that the project will disturb sacred lands. | But some members of the Hualapai tribe have voiced concerns that the project will disturb sacred lands. |
| "When that Skywalk came about it hit me like I was being stabbed," said Dolores Honga, a tribal elder. | "When that Skywalk came about it hit me like I was being stabbed," said Dolores Honga, a tribal elder. |
| Click to return | Click to return |