Arup Completes Elizabeth Quay Pedestrian Bridge in Perth
Arup has completed the Elizabeth Quay pedestrian bridge. The pedestrian bridge spans from the western Williams Landing and the new island in the east, providing increased opportunities for people to interact with the Swan River. It is 22m high, 5m wide and suspended over the inlet with a 5.2m current mean clearance. Two 45m spans connect in the middle, with the bridge’s arches sweeping down towards the water to rest on concrete piers supported on piles socketed into the rock bed.
Arup’s engineers and architects worked together to calculate everything from how to balance the dramatic impact of the bridge’s leaning arches with its structural function, to how to minimise wind vibration.
Wind engineers calculated how the design could minimise wind-induced vibration. Materials were also chosen partly for their ability to reduce vibrations from pedestrian use and also ensure easy maintenance.
Using parametric modelling, Arup optimised the geometry of the pedestrian pathway to overcome design constraints, including the range of different heights required at different sections of the walkway.
Vessels needed enough space to travel under one section of the bridge, while pedestrians needed smooth access across to the island at the end of the bridge. Our architectural solution was a curved form for the bridge deck allowing the creation of extended ramps to clear the navigation channel. The curved design also ensures easy access to the bridge and bringing together the aesthetic design in the master plan.
Arup’s end design of the Elizabeth Quay pedestrian bridge is everything the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority sought to achieve in terms of simple and pure structural forms, complemented by a rationalised modular architecture.
