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Project Description
This footbridge located in front of the sports arena of the Basque town of Zumaia, was completed in 2008. It was conceived by the municipality to avoid motor traffic in the urban area by improving the mobility of bicycles and pedestrians across the river.
It is the first bridge that structurally combines two high performance and corrosion-resistant materials: stainless steel and GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer). The bridge is 28 m long and has a 5 m wide deck. The structural outline is clear and conceptually very simple: two Vierendeel trusses which function as a guardrail and where the lateral lighting and handrail are integrated: pure simplicity. For this hybrid bridge, Pedelta received the Civil Engineering Mention award (2nd Prize) at the Construmat Exhibition.
Design/Construction Approach
The location, a town with a rich cultural heritage and natural surroundings, means a sensationalist, exhibitionist or superfluous structure would not fit. The idea was to design a bridge that enhanced the natural value of the river and understood its environment, instead of creating a useless or pointless landmark. Pedelta’s proposal is a pure and sober structure, but with an innovative and challenging spirit. Due to the corrosive nature of the environment due to its proximity to the sea (less than 400 m), the selection of materials with high corrosion resistance has been crucial.
Further Information
Sobrino J.A.; Pedestrian bridges with hybrid Stainless Steel-GFRP Structure. Proceedings of the International Bridge Conference (IBC-11-51). Pittsburgh (USA), June 2011.
