This year’s theme ‘Creating Experiences’ created discussion around how footbridges are perceived and experienced by owners and users. 120 topics were covered over the three-day conference, with contributions from professionals across Europe, Australia and America. The conference keynote speakers included well-known industry professionals within the bridge design field including Martin Knight, Laurent Ney and Andreas Keil.
The conference was attended by two representatives from SMEC in South Africa – Maja Wilson, Section Manager and Warrick De Kock, Civil Engineer. Both were chosen for submission to the conference and accepted by the conference review panel to showcase footbridge projects with unique challenges and experiences for their clients, designers and community that used them.
Maja presented “The many inputs to creating a single moving form” focusing on Cape Town’s iconic V&A Swingbridge. The presentation highlighted the design challenges of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town where the existing swing bridge could no longer accommodate the pedestrian demand. Recognised as part of the V&A Waterfront identity and a memorable part of any visitor’s experience, the new 4 m wide bridge doubles the previous crossing’s capacity and improves access across the cut to the expanding Clock Tower Precinct.
The client’s key functional drivers and the design team’s aspirations came together to create a bespoke and beautiful bridge. The team was able to overcome design and construction challenges to create a solution that has enhanced the V&A experience for visitors. Performing to the same high standards of its predecessor, the new footbridge opens and closes up to sixty times a day, carrying up to 2.4 million people per year.
Warrick’s presentation outlined the journey of the Wupperthal Footbridge in Cederberg mountain range of the Western Cape. Wupperthal is home to 1400 inhabitants and a growing tourist destination. An adjacent river, however, is a barrier during the wet season for farm children trying to reach the town’s school. A permanent footbridge was therefore recently commissioned to replace temporary structures that have proved dangerous.
His presentation explored insights into the difficulties of building bridges in rural locations. It highlighted how standard solutions can be transformed within limited means to create simple but striking structures.
Both presentations drew on unique experiences for the clients, designers and end users and were well received by those in attendance. The V&A Swing Bridge was also nominated for an award in the Moving Bridge Category. Overall, this industry event offered an opportunity to expand technical abilities and network with key contributors in the bridge design field.
Townsville Connection Road is a state-controlled road between the Townsville CBD and the Bruce Highway in Queensland, serving a major urban arterial road that carries around 24,000 vehicles daily. Supporting the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), SMEC has completed the detailed design of a new Bowen Road Bridge across the Ross River as part of the third stage in the total project (TCR-3).
SMEC is incredibly proud to announce its success at the 2023/24 Consult Australia Awards for Excellence, securing three esteemed awards along with three highly commended accolades.
SMEC is proud to be recognised through its people and projects shortlisted for the 2023-2024 Consult Australia Awards for Excellence.
SMEC embarks on a new challenging assignment as a Knowledge Partner with the Center of Digitalization of the Transport Sector, which is a legal entity organized and operating by the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan as an autonomous body under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport.