Macintosh Island

When an existing timber suspension bridge was closed in November 2006 due to safety concerns over the deterioration of materials and unacceptable vibrations, both a local landmark and a key link in the infrastructure for the annual motor race was lost.

Replacement of the bridge with a wider and longer cable stayed bridge was planned with the key requirement being that the new bridge must be open in time for the Indy 300 race in October 2007. This allowed just five months for design and construction.

The focus of the bridge design was to reduce, as much as possible, the linear nature of construction. This was achieved by maximising pre-casting and off-site fabrication, designing elements to be interchangeable, and by selecting a simple construction method for the deck that gave flexibility in the order of erection of beams.

The extraordinary feat of this new footbridge is the creation of a highly elegant and refined structure given only five months for its total design and construction process. Such an achievement demands an outstanding quality of collaboration and project management between client, architects, engineers and contractors for which this project has been exemplary.

The project won a high commendation at the International Footbridge Awards, and was a national finalist and highly commended at the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Gold Coast Regional Urban Design Awards, both in 2008.