| 45 DC Structures Studio REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Working as the main contractor on the construction of the award-winning Water of Leith Bridge was challenging but satisfying work for Edi ce Structures. The Water of Leith Cable Stayed Bridge is a 45-metre-wide pedestrian and cycle bridge built for the Dunedin City Council. The bridge provides access to the adjacent Forsyth Barr Stadium and Dunedin’s waterfront. Andrew Hamilton, one of Edi ce Structures directors, says one of the major challenges was the old sea walls surrounding the site. They had to survey the site before and after to ensure there was no subsidence or shifting of the walls due to the piling work. The design, a cable stayed bridge, brought its own challenges. The bridge has spiral strand cables attached to a 22-metre-high inverted Y shape steel mast at one end of the bridge. Andrew says getting the cable tensioning right was critical, and the bridge had to be built in stages in precise order. “We used two cranes, a big one on one side where the mast is and a smaller crane on the other side to take the lesser of the load. So, it’s sort of constructed in stages, out from one side then out to the other.” The bridge combines stainless steel, glulaminated timber, and a unique composite deck made from 90 percent recycled plastic and bamboo. At the 2022 New Zealand Bridge Awards the bridge won the Excellence in Bridge Design award. Andrew says he thinks the way the bridge’s colours, mast and cables all blend in with the nearby features and the stadium make the bridge something really special. As the lead contractor on the $1.4 million project Edi ce Structures co-ordinated the build, surveyed the construction material and oversaw its own staff and contractors to get the job done. Edi ce Structures specialises in pedestrian bridges, primarily working for the Department of Conservation and councils. Andrew says constructing pedestrian bridges requires specialist skills, particularly when working remotely such as in the middle of a national park. That does mean they sometimes get to work in spectacular spots, such as when they constructed the Hokitika Gorge Suspension Bridge in 2020. Edi ce was contracted to build the 90m suspension bridge across the gorge by the Department of Conservation. This was another challenging location, with all gear needing to be helicoptered in, and the area having the highest rainfall in the country. The build also coincided with the Covid-19 lockdown. Despite the challenges the project came together beautifully adding a stunning addition to a spectacular location. Overcoming the challenges IHMǻGI GS R^ | IRUYMVMIW%IHMǻGI GS R^ 6YEPMX] TIHIWXVMER WXVYGXYVIW FYMPX XSYKL MR 3I[ >IEPERH 5VSYH XS FI XLI PIEH GSRXVEGXSV JSV XLI ;EXIV SJ 1IMXL 'VMHKI The judges noted that “it is a bridge for the future!”. Dan says to win this award, and to be recognised by a judging panel of peers who are very much at the top of their game, was a wonderful experience. His company also recently won an award for another footbridge, the Toki Poutangata Bridge in Westport. This bridge took out the Gold Award for consulting excellence at the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACE) New Zealand Awards. ACE represents more than 240 professional members, including the largest global firms. The Toki Bridge sat alongside mega Auckland projects such as City Rail Loop and the Britomart Redevelopment in winning gold. Dan says it was “a win for the smaller firms and the regional communities!”. DC Structures Studio designs all sort of bridges, but Dan says foot and cycle bridges are his team’s primary focus. He says that the main goal is to create bridges that the local communities can take pride in. I love designing cool bridges for cool people, which bring tangible benefits to the community. I love the idea that someone from Dunedin or Westport is talking to someone from Auckland or elsewhere, and people say to them, oh you’ve got that cool bridge. I want the local community to take pride in these structures, that’s what we strive for.” Dan says the Water of Leith project was particularly satisfying to work on because everyone involved - the designers, the fabricators, the constructors – all enjoyed and took pride in their work. It was treated like a labour of love by all involved and the final outcome is a testament to this underlying drive to create something special. The Toki Poutangata Bridge. Photos: Nomad Audio and Video Dan Crocker receiving the ACE Gold Award for the Toki Poutangata Bridge in Westport.
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