RTA Bridges Final 1
Bridge Aesthetics
Design guidelines to improve the appearance of bridges in NSW
Contents
Foreword
2
01
Introduction
3
02
Design approach
9
03
The whole
15
04
The parts
25
05
The details
41
06
Particular conditions
49
Bibliography
56
Acknowledgments
Prepared by a collaboration of:
The Government Architects Office | RTA Operations Directorate, Bridge Section | RTA Road Network Infrastructure Directorate, Urban Design Section
Project team:
Wije Ariyaratne | Mark Bennett | Joe Canceri | Raeburn Chapman | Gareth Collins | Ian Hobson | Col Jones | Peter Mould | Ray Wedgwood
The information in this document is current as at July 2003.
The whole
Foreword
It is nearly four years since the RTA published Beyond the
Pavement: RTA Urban and Regional Practice Notes. In that time the RTA has significantly changed the way it deals with the design of its roads and transitways.
Bridges have been part of human settlement for thousands of years. Historic bridges stand as evidence of the power and influence of past societies. They vary greatly in style and reflect the culture and engineering innovation of their society.
In keeping with the Beyond the Pavement philosophy, this document addresses the design and appearance of our bridges in a systematic and practical manner. It draws from the wealth of design excellence in our bridge inventory as well as from past design problems.
They show the daring, engineering skill and craftsmanship of their builders and even in the simplest bridges we can find inventiveness and subtlety in working with the local context.
It stresses that good bridge aesthetics need not be costly nor a maintenance burden, but are integral to good engineering design.
I commend these guidelines to the RTA and everyone involved in road and bridge design and look forward to the outcomes.
Paul Forward
Chief Executive, RTA
November 2003
Great bridges
Design guidelines to improve the appearance of bridges in NSW
Contents
Foreword
2
01
Introduction
3
02
Design approach
9
03
The whole
15
04
The parts
25
05
The details
41
06
Particular conditions
49
Bibliography
56
Acknowledgments
Prepared by a collaboration of:
The Government Architects Office | RTA Operations Directorate, Bridge Section | RTA Road Network Infrastructure Directorate, Urban Design Section
Project team:
Wije Ariyaratne | Mark Bennett | Joe Canceri | Raeburn Chapman | Gareth Collins | Ian Hobson | Col Jones | Peter Mould | Ray Wedgwood
The information in this document is current as at July 2003.
The whole
Foreword
It is nearly four years since the RTA published Beyond the
Pavement: RTA Urban and Regional Practice Notes. In that time the RTA has significantly changed the way it deals with the design of its roads and transitways.
Bridges have been part of human settlement for thousands of years. Historic bridges stand as evidence of the power and influence of past societies. They vary greatly in style and reflect the culture and engineering innovation of their society.
In keeping with the Beyond the Pavement philosophy, this document addresses the design and appearance of our bridges in a systematic and practical manner. It draws from the wealth of design excellence in our bridge inventory as well as from past design problems.
They show the daring, engineering skill and craftsmanship of their builders and even in the simplest bridges we can find inventiveness and subtlety in working with the local context.
It stresses that good bridge aesthetics need not be costly nor a maintenance burden, but are integral to good engineering design.
I commend these guidelines to the RTA and everyone involved in road and bridge design and look forward to the outcomes.
Paul Forward
Chief Executive, RTA
November 2003
Great bridges
Bibliography: For further enquiries: www.rta.nsw.gov.au 02 9218 6027 9am-5pm Mon-Fri ISBN 0731054067 Roads and Traffic Authority January 04 RTA/Pub. 04.003