Materials that endure and evolve

Alternative material selection is an excellent opportunity for innovative design. SMEC is known for delivering innovative, future-focused bridge design solutions that respond to the evolving demands of modern infrastructure. With a multidisciplinary team of specialists and deep experience across complex project environments, SMEC applies global best practice and technical rigour to develop designs that are constructable, sustainable, and resilient.

While steel-reinforced concrete remains a foundational material in bridge construction, alternatives like Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) are gaining momentum—offering a lightweight, corrosion-resistant alternative to steel, it makes for an ideal alternative for long-life infrastructure in harsh environments. However, its use does require a rethinking of traditional detailing and design assumptions, reflecting a broader industry shift toward smarter, more sustainable materials, particularly in environments where maintenance access is limited. With the Pennant Hills Road Bridge Strengthening Project in Sydney, the team selected another alternative material option, a shear strengthening system using epoxy-bonded steel plates, validated through non-linear analysis and staged implementation. This approach extended the bridge’s service life while maintaining full operational continuity.

Constraints driving innovative design

In the case of Melbourne’s Level Crossing Removal Project, over 80 level crossings were removed with varied site constraints demanding multiple design approaches. As a part of this project, SMEC collaborated with Fulton Hogan to remove several crossings through the road-over-rail bridge approach. This approach uses a minimal project footprint compared to other design options while also minimising disruptions to both road and rail users. Other key design considerations, such as detailing of precast kerbs and anti-throw screens, serve as valuable learnings to help improve future similar style projects.

Level Crossing Removal Project, Melbourne, Australia

SMEC also worked on Australia’s first curved torsion box girder pedestrian bridge, which was a result of multiple in-depth structural studies and innovative modelling techniques including the use of finite element analyses, long-term effect investigation and construction staging calculations. The bridge geometry was meticulously modelled in 3D using Revit, incorporating extensive metadata and automated scripting to handle the complex alignment and interactions of elements—a great case study for designers and researchers alike on this special bridge form.

The Breakfast Creek / Yowoggera Bridge project in Brisbane was equally challenging. The main span of the bridge, an 80m asymmetrical steel box arch, was selected from multiple design considerations as the best fit to respond to the project’s unique alignment, architectural, heritage, geotechnical and flooding site constraints. The technical challenges addressed with the design and construction of the main arch span included buckling of the arch sections, footfall analysis and complex staging analysis. Beyond its structural complexity, the bridge is part of Brisbane’s active transport initiative, serving as a key link that enhances pedestrian and cyclist connectivity while supporting long-term asset performance through material durability and life-cycle-based design. It incorporates the whole-of life performance approach where engineering excellence, urban integration and community benefit converge.

Transporting the Breakfast Creek / Yowoggera Bridge into position, Brisbane, Australia

Data driven decisions improving safety and service life

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is another critical consideration with infrastructure design which is transforming how bridge assets are managed. By embedding sensors into critical elements, engineers can collect real-time data on strain, displacement, and temperature. This information is used to validate analytical models, assess structural performance, and inform proactive maintenance strategies. SHM has enabled a shift from reactive to predictive asset management, improving safety, reducing lifecycle costs, and extending the service life of critical infrastructure.

SMEC’s bridges projects demonstrate how engineering insights grounded in constructability, material science, safety and performance are reshaping the future of bridge infrastructure. The next generation of bridge design prioritises the integration of digital systems, sustainable materials and construction methods that reduce impact to communities and ecosystems, while maximising long-term value.

By rethinking how we design, deliver and manage assets, the industry is redefining what infrastructure can achieve. As demand on our urban mobility continue to grow, these principles will remain critical to building bridges that are not only structurally sound, but resilient, adaptable, and enduring.