SMITHS FALLS, ONT. — Construction of a new and elaborate looking Confederation Drive Pedestrian Bridge in Smiths Falls, Ont. is underway and will feature timber, steel and stone elements and a design that’s meant to showcase the “flow of forces.”
Design-build contractor and structural engineer of record StructureCraft is executing the project, which will replace the Confederation Drive vehicle bridge that was decommissioned in 2015.
The bridge will span 50 metres over the historic Rideau Canal and will provide an active transportation link between Centennial and Veteran’s Memorial Parks.
Its design includes viewing platforms on each side and tapered Alaskan Yellow Cedar glulam arches that support a doubly-curved metal roof which reach nearly nine metres above the bridge deck, explains StructureCraft in a project description.
The clear span alignment also eliminates the need for in-water works and the abutments are cast directly behind the existing canal walls, leaving them intact.
StructureCraft also highlights the slight cross curvature of the extended corrugated metal roof, which allows the roof to shed rain sideways, eliminating the need for gutters. The bridge deck consists of gapped and pre-stressed timber deck panels, which cantilever at the midspan viewing platforms.
In late fall concrete abutments were slated for installation and the remainder of the bridge construction is taking place this year.
Other members of the project team include landscape architect, Fotenn; environmental Kilgour and Associates; and Thurber Engineering, geotechnical.
Recent Comments