Bridges will be built in Bermuda, following the award of the design contract to a UK team comprising Ramboll, Knight Architects and Eadon Consulting. The deal was awarded by the Government of Bermuda and is for full design services for two replacement highway bridges.
The two bridges form key links for Bermuda’s transport infrastructure, connecting L F Wade International Airport with capital city Hamilton to the west and St Georges to the east. Longbird Bridge was originally constructed in the 1950s as a 60m-long twin carriageway steel swing bridge at the east end of the 1km-long causeway connecting the island with the airport. However the bridge closed to traffic 10 years ago and was temporarily bypassed with twin Bailey Bridge structures. Swing Bridge spans 120m across Ferry Reach, linking St George’s Harbour with the west of the island, and is a vital link for both vehicular and marine traffic. The 1960s swing bridge has received extensive upgrades, allowing it to remain open to vehicles but its mechanisms are worn and it no longer opens to shipping.
The design team will undertake studies to determine the most appropriate solutions for the new bridges, including fixed and movable structures. Robustness and durability are key factors as both existing bridges have suffered accelerated deterioration in the tropical climate, which is particularly aggressive to steel structures. In addition, the structures and their mechanisms must be designed to withstand the hurricane force winds which Bermuda periodically suffers.
The two bridges form key links for Bermuda’s transport infrastructure, connecting L F Wade International Airport with capital city Hamilton to the west and St Georges to the east. Longbird Bridge was originally constructed in the 1950s as a 60m-long twin carriageway steel swing bridge at the east end of the 1km-long causeway connecting the island with the airport. However the bridge closed to traffic 10 years ago and was temporarily bypassed with twin Bailey Bridge structures. Swing Bridge spans 120m across Ferry Reach, linking St George’s Harbour with the west of the island, and is a vital link for both vehicular and marine traffic. The 1960s swing bridge has received extensive upgrades, allowing it to remain open to vehicles but its mechanisms are worn and it no longer opens to shipping.
The design team will undertake studies to determine the most appropriate solutions for the new bridges, including fixed and movable structures. Robustness and durability are key factors as both existing bridges have suffered accelerated deterioration in the tropical climate, which is particularly aggressive to steel structures. In addition, the structures and their mechanisms must be designed to withstand the hurricane force winds which Bermuda periodically suffers.
