The solution involved a new elevated street crossing at the Le Merigot Hotel with a direct connection to the existing vessel boarding platform.  The Aztar Casino Pedestrian Walkway project provides a 116-foot long bridge over a very busy road for safe pedestrian access to the riverboat gaming vessel.  The new walkway provides the much needed connectivity to the vessel, as well as safe pedestrian access from the vessel and pavilion to the entertainment cluster owned by Aztar and known as the “District”.  Upon completion, the public and guests of Aztar are able to access all of the property amenities on  foot, under roof, and without needing to navigate the dangerous roadway that transects the property.  The hotel interface includes an open stair, elevator equipment room, and elevator.  The physical location of the other end of the bridge is within a riverside park.  The park-side landing is also within a floodplain so the finished floor elevation was adjusted to provide flood protection.  The design solution includes a stair, two elevators and elevator lobbies that thread a needle of obstacles out to the point where a 128-feet long boarding ramp is attached at a pivot, allowing for 14-feet of vertical adjustment on the other end of the ramp to follow the rise and fall of the Ohio River.  To accommodate the significant weight of the 128-foot long ramp and the 14-feet of adjustment, the design incorporates a hydraulic lifting mechanism to supplement the existing boarding tower and coordinate with the boarding platform.  The design solution navigates all of the design parameters while providing a nicely detailed gateway to the Aztar gaming complex of hotels, restaurants, shops, parking garage and gaming vessel.  The project provides safety, access and an identity that unifies the entire property and greatly enhance the public experience.