Procurement, design and construction of the Clyde Arc, Glasgow

Abstract

The design and construction of the Clyde Arc has created a new landmark structure on the River Clyde waterfront in Glasgow. The construction of the £20·3 million project commenced in May 2005 and was completed in September 2006. The bridge is a three-span structure, the central span comprising a tied bow string arch with a single steel diamond-shaped arch rib spanning the long diagonal of the span. The main deck consists of a composite steel ladder beam arrangement with two longitudinal plate girders and cross girders at 4 m centres acting compositely with a reinforced concrete deck. The centre span is supported directly from 14 hanger bars, each 110 mm in diameter. The lower hanger connections are attached to outriggers from the main longitudinal girders, which are connected longitudinally with tubular members. The back spans are supported at the pier cross girders and are integral with the reinforced concrete abutments, which are in turn supported on reinforced concrete piles of small diameter. The centre span is supported on tubular steel piles of large diameter, within the river. This paper describes the procurement, design and construction of this structure.