Major challenges ahead in Swan River Bridge construction

The new Perth Stadium and Sports Precinct, located on the Swan River, will be a mecca for sports fans in the region.

The stadium boasts a 60,000 seating capacity and will be capable of hosting Australian Football League (AFL), rugby, football, cricket and other entertainment events. The venue is currently under construction and will be open in time for the 2018 AFL season.

The stadium sits on the Burswood Peninsula side of the river, and the big question is: how will many of those 60,000 sports fans get from the city to the stadium?

That question has now been answered.

The Western Australian Government unveiled the winning design for the Swan River Pedestrian Bridge in June – a 400-metre long structure spanning the width of the river – connecting city and stadium.

An expert panel, headed by bridge engineer and former Western Australian Governor Ken Michael, selected the design by York Rizzani de Eccher Joint Venture (YRJV) based on its accordance with the objectives set by the Government’s “Better Places and Spaces” policy. The policy aims to improve the quality of the public realm, recognise value-for-money across the whole life of a project and promote sustainable design principles.

Steve Kochergen, York State Manager WA, says the project had some big challenges for the YRJV design team. At first, they were apprehensive about the scope of the structure, as it required some challenging architectural, engineering and aesthetic equations. “Main Roads had quite a few criteria as to what they saw as fulfilling the requirements,” he says. “We needed a sense of space and location to really capture the specifics of the environment: the stadium, the precinct and the city.” The design needed to cater to the capacity of users too, which Main Roads estimates to be nearly 14,000 people at its peak in the lead up to a major sporting event.

The final design is an arched, cable-stayed bridge; approximately 65 metres at its highest point with a cable-stay span of 160 metres at its centre. It includes just two piers, which is to respect the area’s heritage and minimise the impact on the river. “The piers themselves are quite robust and it gives us the ability to minimise [the number of them],” he says.

Mr. Kochergen says that the use of just two piers over the width of the river was a major challenge for the YRJV. It was also a major point of difference in the design. “We saw an opportunity to really open up the area and make it quite environmentally focused,” he says.

The structure is not a typical cable-stayed bridge, Mr. Kochergen explains. The bridge is supported using a combination of arches and cables to support the deck such that only two piers are required between the main span.

It will take 18 months to build to structure, and Mr. Kochergen says there are certainly some major challenges ahead in the construction process. “Safety and efficiency is going to be a challenge and so a lot of engineering has gone into temporary works,” he says. Temporary structures, such as the platforms from which to build the bridge, had to be taken into account carefully, as the bridge deck sits approximately eight metres above the water, while the arches are approximately 65 metres above the water.

Construction of the $54-million project is set to begin around September and October this year. “It’s going to be very challenging, but we’re definitely able to commit to completing it in time,” says Mr. Kochergen.

He says the final product will be something that distinguishes Western Australia. “It’s definitely one of its kind,” he says. “[The city is] getting a bridge that looks quite spectacular both in the day and at night time too.” The bridge also includes stop points with trees, foliage and benches that complement it. “You don’t just use the bridge to get from ‘A’ to ‘B’,” he says. “The bridge is something you want to be on.”

Ilario Spagnolo, Senior Project Director at Main Roads, says that the YRJV proposal ticked all the boxes for the state’s design and construction guidelines. “YRJV provided a distinctive bridge form that could become a destination in its own right and best addressed the range of design objectives,” he says. “The best value for money proposal was offered by YRJV.”

Mr. Spagnolo says the new bridge takes a leaf out of Melbourne’s book. Sports fans walking across the bridge will enjoy a similar sense of camaraderie as fans heading from the city to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The bridge will be a pivotal community asset as it provides year-round access to the Burswood Peninsula and the facilities near the new Perth Stadium. Mr. Spagnolo adds that the design’s distinct appearance also makes it a unique contribution to the area. “Some people will look at the design and see swans, others will see a Wagyl taking shape or a dolphin – and that’s perfect for the river environment,” he says.