Abstract Manager

Modern day transport infrastructure underpins the daily lives of cities and communities – driving economies and building social networks – and this is especially true of major urban bridges which have served throughout living memory. However, their resilience is often taken for granted and their value is only recognised when a replacement is required and the familiar connection will be temporarily lost. If the project involves the removal of a heritage structure or an emergency, it can be traumatic, controversial and highly challenging for public sector owners.

As focal points of transport infrastructure, bridges are viewed as public property and their replacement often involves high value decisions made in the public eye. In seeking to accommodate a diverse range of views from the public and stakeholders, decision-making can suffer “options overload” that slows the process and adds cost, sometimes even resulting in a retrograde like-for-like approach to design. Yet new structures should be designed and constructed with the lightest possible environmental footprint. Additionally, replacement bridges offer the best opportunity to create beneficial step change in sustainable urban transport, by driving modal shift through the prioritisation and upgrade of public transit and Active Mobility.

Referencing high-profile case studies from Canada and Scandinavia, the presentation will explore strategies for successful decision-making that engages communities, strengthens support, enrichens culture and enhances a sense of place. The projects will compare plans which support modal shift through improved public transit, including dedicated tram and bus bridges, alongside attractive pedestrian and cycle facilities. It will conclude with the benefits of using a "Design for Procurement" philosophy to achieve value for money and design quality alongside construction innovation.