Alternative design for the replacement Cambridge Pipe Bridge

Abstract

<p>The new Cambridge Pipe Bridge crosses the Waikato River just south of the historic Gaslight Theatre in Cambridge, NZ. The original pipe bridge was a three span truss bridge with a triangular cross section built from steel circular hollow sections and was constructed circa the early 1970s.</p><p>Waipa District Council is in the midst of a Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade including new, larger diameter pipework which was proposed to cross the original bridge. As part of the project, strengthening of the existing bridge was designed to accommodate the increased pipe diameter.</p><p>Eastbridge and Holmes Consulting developed an alternative tender submission for the main contractor for the works, Fulton Hogan. The alternative design is a new network arch bridge that provides cost savings relative to the original strengthening scheme, a reduction in safety and environmental risks during construction, reduced maintenance costs, and increased seismic resilience for this critical piece of infrastructure.</p>