DCSS – Pedestrian Bridge Design FAQ

Our list of frequently asked questions (more commonly referred to as FAQs) relating to pedestrian bridges is shown below. Although there will be some overlap, these are typically the questions we receive relating to pedestrian bridge design and/or commissioning. Feel free to get in touch or leave a comment if you have another question you would like answered.

What type of pedestrian bridge do I need?

The type of bridge you need will depend upon your specific site constraints, architectural vs. functional intent, and your overall budget. However, as a rule of thumb the following bridge types are deemed suitable for the following spans:

Span < 10m = Concrete beams or timber beam bridge

Span 10 to 40m = Steel beam bridge or steel truss bridge

Span 40 to 90m = Steel truss, steel arch, cable-stayed bridge.

90m+ = suspension bridge

We have included examples of these bridge types from our design collection at the bottom of this page. If you give us a ring or email, we can generally ask a couple of simple questions about your key drivers, take a quick look at your site (on google earth), and then let you know the most suitable bridge form (and budget) for your specific requirements. This is a free service to help you get the ball rolling on your exciting new project.

Note the above forms are discussed in terms of pedestrian bridge design and are not directly applicable to road bridges. For road bridges, we generally find that precast prestressed concrete beams are the preferred approach for spans up to 35m.

Pedestrian Bridge Examples:

Water of Leith Pedestrian Bridge (45m span steel and glulam cable stayed bridge)

Laurent Swale Footbridge (20m span steel beam bridge)

Wairoa Cycleway (25m span steel truss)

Longford Shared Path Footbridge (90m span steel cable stayed bridge)

Check out our full catalogue of bridges we have designed for our clients on our home page: dcstructurestudio.com

How much does a pedestrian bridge cost?

What is my bridge span?

Do I need a consent for a pedestrian bridge in NZ?

What is the design life of a pedestrian bridge?

Do I need to consider the effects of climate change on my pedestrian bridge design?

How often do I need to inspect my bridges?

Are there free footbridge plans that can be downloaded?


 

BRIDGE TYPE <25m SPAN: Timber Beams Bridge, Steel Beam Bridge, and Steel Truss Bridges

Cambridge steel pedestrian bridge

25m TO 50m Bridge Type: Steel Truss Bridges, Cable Stayed Bridges

Water of Leith Footbridge - side profile
Tauranga Steel Truss Bridge
Toki Poutangata Steel Truss Pedestrian Bridge

50m TO 90m Bridge Type: Cable Stayed Bridge & Suspension Bridge

Longford cable stayed bridge
Whakatane River Pedestrian Bridge - DC Structures Studio - Image 1
Newnham Rd Cycle bridge - DC Structures Studio & Edifice 2017

90m+ Bridge Type: Suspension Bridge

Pukeiti Suspension bridge

Check out our projects....

Projects

River Road Arched Footbridge

Are you considering a cycle bridge project? We are the experts – talk to DC Structures Studio today! Email DCSS Overview We developed this concept for Hamilton City Council in partnership with Bridge It NZ. The shared-use bridge would have been part of the cycleway network, crossing the Kirikiriroa Stream near the Pukete Bridge and connecting with the Wairere Drive

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A view of Westhaven Marina from the new boardwalk ramp.
Projects

Westhaven Marina Footbridge Ramp

General information Technical information Are you considering a bridge amendment or addition? We are the experts – talk to DC Structures Studio today! Email DCSS Visitor information Overview Westhaven Marina in Auckland is a beautiful spot with amazing views of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The real drawcard here is the huge variety of boats moored in the large marina. We

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Projects

Hornsby Cable Bridge

General information Technical information Are you considering a suspension bridge project? We are the experts – talk to DC Structures Studio today! Email DCSS Visitor information Overview This project is currently in the concept design stage. Hornsby Park, Sydney, Australia comprises approximately 60 hectares of bushland and open space, about 1 kilometre west of the Hornsby town centre. This site

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Projects

Wai Kahua Waka Footbridge

Visitor information Technical information Are you considering a footbridge project? We are the experts – talk to DC Structures Studio today! Email DCSS Visitor information Overview The Wai Kahua Waka Bridge is at the Puhi Kai Iti Cook Landing Site National Historic Reserve in Gisborne. The footbridge crosses Kaiti Beach Road. The bridge is in the form of a waka

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