Beca was engaged to provide structural, civil and geotechnical engineering, and specialist lighting services for the construction of the walkway bridge.
The total length of the bridge is 33m and the central span is 20m with 6m cantilevers at both ends. The bridge deck is a cast-in-situ post-tensioned concrete voided element. The crane frame consists of two post-tensioned pre-cast cantilevered columns with varying cross sections. One of the legs is planar while the other is dogleg shape. The bridge deck at this location is vertically supported by the frame on one side and hung by cables from the other side.
The bridge aesthetics presented numerous challenges to the construction and design teams, particularly given the need for some components to be constructed under sea water and in tidal conditions. As with all construction in Wellington, attention was paid to seismic risk. With a relatively steep sloping seabed directly in front of the wharf, there was potential for the bridge to slump towards the sea in the event of an earthquake. Four 600mm diameter steel tube piles were designed to help withstand this load.
The project also included refurbishing the existing pedestrian wharf, and reclaiming the Kumutoto Stream. This is significant for local Maori as it runs from its spring in Kelburn through an old Maori settlement and out to the sea. The bridge forms part of the overall plan to create a pleasing environment around the Meridian Building and other planned developments in the area, as well as improving accessibility for the public along the length of Wellington’s waterfront.
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