Structural Elements of Habitable Bridges

Abstract

This article examines a building type having a long-span aboveground structure also known as a habitable bridge. Habitable bridges provide a useful solution for a number of transportation system limitations and social problems in the urban planning process. Contemporary cities, including Moscow, face problems originating from current structure and missing links in road networks. The missing links appear when an extended barrier such as: a river, a ravine, a highway and railroad track crosses the road. In such cases, habitable bridges serve as vehicle and pedestrian links across these barriers and connect residential, business, cultural and industrial city boroughs. They also offer other feature areas besides a transit function. In this study the author describes the idea of additional feature facilities and operating conditions for habitable bridges in big cities. An investor’s active engagement in the design and building process is key for a successful and productive outcome. In order to attract private investors it is necessary to offer useful commercial areas within the habitable bridge development. Increasing the bridge height to accommodate additional area is one of many ways to provide attractive incentives for investors. General criteria requirements are addressed through standardized construction solutions. One of the most suitable solutions to interconnect local interborough links is with a «short-span habitable bridge». This study addresses the structural components of the habitable bridge building type and its relationship to the road network as well as the surrounding city framework.