Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa November/December 2014 | Page 56

WINNER: BRIDGE CATEGORY
Tugela River Pedestrian Bridge, KwaJolwayo
In awarding the Tugela Pedestrian Bridge the top spot in the Bridge category
the judges agreed with the project team that this bridge “merits an award in view
of its portrayal of the benefits that technical solutions and efficient design using
structural steel can bring to rural communities faced with dangerous natural
barriers which adversely affect their everyday lives.”
This 134m structural steel suspension bridge over the 8m-deep Tugela River at
KwaJolwayo, upstream of the Tugela Ferry in the Msinga area of rural KwaZuluNatal, has resulted in a life-changing, safe crossing option for communities on
both sides of the river enabling them to access commercial and educational
opportunities that were previously inaccessible particularly during the
summer months.
The design requirement focused on the fact that the higher the mass of a
structure the more the materials required with a correspondingly higher cost to
the environment and money.
Structural steel was chosen as the ideal material to meet the above requirements
and the inaccessible, deep gorge provided the ideal situation for the engineer to
test his mettle.
The final design came to four cables supporting steel Y frames which, in turn,
support a 1.2m-wide steel deck. The suspension portion of the bridge structure
consists of two equal spans of 60m. The 14m approach span on the north bank
consists of steel beams.
The structure was constructed using labour sourced from the local community
who will ultimately benefit from improved all-weather access to the opposite bank
of the Tugela River.
Louis Breckenridge, representing the Constructional Engineering Association
(CEA) on the judges panel, said that this would be an impressive bridge in any
environment. “But in this beautiful, inaccessible place it is particularly impressive.
It is a monument to the team who conceived and installed it, particularly in light
of the fact that site access is difficult, no heavy lifting equipment was used and
scarring of the environment is almost undetectable,” he concluded.
Developer/Owner: KZN Department of Transport
Structural Engineer: GDB Engineers
Project Manager: Nankhoo Engineers
Main Contractor: TBA Construction
Steelwork Contractor: Steelcon
Rigging: Fergus Upfold

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Steel Awards