FRP PRODUCT GATEWAY:

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES
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PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES

Introduction
During the past 20 years, FRP composite
pedestrian bridges have provided walkway
solutions

for

both

industrial

and

public

applications. Due to increased demand in

backcountry

locations

for

recreational

activities such as hiking, biking, horseback

riding, and off-road vehicles, FRP composite
pedestrian bridges have expanded trail and
greenway uses into areas where traditional
bridge building has been more difficult. Over
100 FRP pedestrian bridges for public use
have
more

been
have

installed
been

worldwide.
installed

Hundreds

in

industrial

applications as walkways or catwalks.

Most

FRP composite pedestrian bridges installed for

public use have spans ranging from 15 ft.
(5m) to 100 ft. (30m).

However, spans in

excess of 200 ft. (65m) have been built.

FRP pedestrian bridge framing system
components are manufactured by the
pultrusion process in a quality-controlled
environment. High-strength FRP materials
such as glass or carbon fiber reinforcements
provide the bridge system with a strength-toweight ratio greater than steel, offering
significant design and erection advantages.
The FRP pedestrian bridge system uses typical
structural profiles including wide-flange
beams, channels, angles, and tubes. The FRP
structural profiles can be prefabricated offsite,
and transported in lightweight component
assemblies to the site.

FRP composite materials are inherently

corrosion-resistant. This unique FRP materials
quality eliminates the ongoing maintenance
concerns from moisture, salt air, and termites
that pose problems for typical pedestrian
bridges constructed in steel, wood and
concrete. This life-cycle performance of a
pedestrian bridge is important on most
projects in remote sites, as access to the site
for inspection and repair is often not readily
available after initial construction.
Features and Benefits
High Strength Standard components
have strengths ranging between
30,000 - 60,000 psi.
Light Weight Standard components
can be easily carried. The bridge spans
can be erected in most locations.
Modular Construction Bridge spans
can be shipped fully assembled,
partially assembled or completely
disassembled depending on site or
project requirements.
Easy Installation Bridge spans are
designed for quick and easy installation
and assembly.
Low Maintenance The FRP materials
perform well in harsh environments
that quickly deteriorate more
traditional materials. Wet locations,
termites, salt, and most chemical
environments have no effect on the
material. FRP composites are
electrically non-conductive and easy to

clean.
Attractive Appearance The bridge
system can be specified in any color.
The color is pigmented in the resin.
Therefore, painting is not necessary.
Design
FRP structural profiles are designed using
traditional framing systems to produce the
FRP pedestrian bridge. The selection and
design of the framing system is dependent on
the

owners

needs,

loading,

and

site

conditions. The walkway wearing surface could

be designed using wood, concrete, or FRP
composites in the form of panels or open-hole
grating, depending on the bridge owners
requirements. Consult the FRP bridge supplier
for

design

composite

guidance.
pedestrian

Examples
bridge

of

FRP

structural

configurations are, but not limited to:

Pratt Truss
Howe Truss
Pony Truss
X-Braced Truss
Arch Truss
Cable stayed
Suspension
Connections
FRP

structural

framing

components

are

connected with mechanical bolts. All bolted

connections are designed as bearing type
connections. In some cases, use of adhesive
bonding could be used but only in conjunction

with bolted connections. Separate mounting

clips may be required by the design. Clips are
securely

attached

to

the

foundation

as

required to provide adequate vertical and

horizontal support.
Assembly and Installation
Bridge installations used in remote locations
benefit from the high-strength and lightweight
characteristics of FRP composite materials.
FRP pedestrian bridge systems can be
transported and installed without use of the
typical construction machinery, and without
causing damage to fragile ecosystems at the
bridge site. The FRP structural components are
designed into an efficient system providing for
an extremely cost effective solution. FRP
pedestrian bridges are often located over
existing high-volume traffic zones or in
recreational areas with limited access. In
these circumstances, bridge owners desire to
have minimum impact ontraffic patterns or the
sites natural surroundings.
FRP pedestrian bridges can be assembled and
installed in a variety of ways. Spans can be
shipped to the site previously assembled,
partially assembled or in component parts. If
shipped partially assembled or unassembled,
the spans can be assembled using standard
hand tools. The FRP materials lightweight
characteristic allows for quick installation on
site with a small work crew. Assembly of the
FRP structural components on site might
require temporary supports and/or rigging

depending on the job requirements. The

system can also be easily installed using a
small crane, helicopter, or even a forklift truck.
For applications where FRP bridges are
attached to existing bridge structures, FRP
composite brackets can be used to support the
bridge structure to provide easy installation.
The FRP pedestrian bridge systems easy
assembly and installation is an important
benefit compared with other traditional
systems constructed in steel, concrete or
wood.
Conclusion
FRP composite pedestrian bridges offer a cost
effective alternative to traditional construction
materials. The added benefits of low
maintenance / life cycle costs offset any
higher initial project cost. Given todays
concerns with replacement costs, FRP
pedestrian bridges become an attractive
option when compared to steel, concrete, and
wood. Further, for existing vehicular and
railway bridges where there is a need to add
pedestrian access, FRP bridges offer the
lightest and most easily installed solution to
the problem.
Copyright 2004 American Composites Manufacturers Association

American Composites Manufacturers Association 1010 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201
P: 703-525-0511 F: 703-525-0743 E: [email protected]
New York Office 600 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 429 Harrison, NY 10528
P: 914-381-3572 F: 914-381-1253

American Composites Manufacturers Association 1010 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA

22201
P: 703-525-0511 F: 703-525-0743 E: [email protected]

New York Office 600 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 429 Harrison, NY 10528
P: 914-381-3572 F: 914-381-1253
http://www.mdacomposites.org/mda/PSGbridge_pedestrian_intro.html#Top

A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists,
animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape[citation
needed]
and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction. In
many developed countries, footbridges are both functional and can be beautiful works of art and
sculpture. For poor rural communities in the developing world, a footbridge may be a community's only
access to medical clinics, schools and markets, which would otherwise be unreachable when rivers are
too high to cross. Simple suspension bridge designs have been developed to be sustainable and easily
constructible in such rural areas using only local materials and labor.
An enclosed footbridge between two buildings is sometimes known as a skyway. Bridges providing for
both pedestrians and cyclists are often referred to as greenbridges and form an important part
of sustainable transport movement towards more sustainable[clarification needed] cities. Footbridges are often
situated to allow pedestrians to cross water or railways in areas where there are no nearby roads to
necessitate a road bridge. They are also located across roads to let pedestrians cross safely without
slowing down the traffic. The latter is a type of pedestrian separation structure, examples of which are
particularly found near schools, to help prevent children running in front of moving cars.
Small footbridges can also be used for a technical effect in ornamental gardens.
Types of footbridge (which are not also types of road bridge) include:

Simple suspension bridge

Clapper bridge
Moon bridge
Step-stone bridge
Zig-zag bridge

Types of residential-scale footbridges include:

Plank

Boardwalk
Joisted
Simple truss

The residential-scale footbridges all span a short distance and can be used for a broad range of
applications. Complicated engineering is not needed and the footbridges are built with readily available
materials and basic tools.[1]
Different types of design footbridges include:

Timber footbridges

Steel footbridges

Concrete footbridges

BP Pedestrian Bridge is a concealed box girder beam bridge in Millennium Park with sculptural qualities.

Footbridges can also be built in the same ways as road or rail bridges; particularly suspension
bridges and beam bridges. Some former road bridges have had their traffic diverted to alternative
crossings and have become pedestrian bridges; examples in the UK include The Iron
Bridge at Ironbridge, Shropshire, the Old Bridge at Pontypridd and Windsor Bridge at Windsor, Berkshire.
Most footbridges are equipped with guard rails to reduce the risk of pedestrians falling. Where they pass
over busy roads or railways, they may also include a fence or other such barrier to prevent pedestrians
from jumping, or throwing projectiles onto the traffic below.
[edit]Advantages
Provides safe and sustainable crossings and provides technical assistance to local government and
communities need simple, easily applied guidelines on the selection and construction of effective water
crossings. Much rural travel takes place on local paths, tracks and village roads. These provide essential
access to water, firewood, farm plots and the classified road network. Communities and/or local
government are generally responsible for thisinfrastructure.[2]
[edit]Disadvantages
One of the main problems that communities and/or local governments face when dealing with building
footbridges is in providing effective water crossings. Particularly in the rainy season, the lack of an
adequate crossing can prevent access to services, or detours of many km or taking risks, especially by
women and children, on an unsafe crossing.[2]
[edit]History

Leonardo da Vinci footbridge, Norway

Footbridges are small, but important, because they are usually presented in townscape. The appearance
of footbridges, and indeed of any other bridges, in a town, is a major concern for designers. People have
to live with these structures, usually seeing them every day. In the towns that are big on architectural or
scenic interest, conflicting demands may arise and bridges will be built.
Footbridges, in fact, can be elegant or beautiful, and are built on a more human scale than large road
and railway bridges. Railway footbridges tend to be somewhat utilitarian, which were present in the earlier
years. Apart from those in stations and in towns, they are generally not much seen, even by the
passengers who go under them.[3]
History Time Line see page to view content. [1]
Since the early 1980s, several charities have developed manualized footbridge designs that
are sustainable for use in developing countries. The first charity to develop such standardized designs
was Helvetas, located in Zurich, Switzerland.[4] Designs that can be sustainably and efficiently used in
developing countries are typically made available to the public gratis, such as the ones on the Bridges to
Prosperity[5] website.[6] The number of bridges built using suchwire rope technology in developing
countries number over 6,000(versus a worldwide need of 500,000

Design

A stressed ribbon bridge for pedestrians, bicycles, and pipelines

Footbridge, consisting of steps that are difficult for a wheelchair, over a canal inVenice

Design of footbridges normally follows the same principles as for other bridges. However, because they
are normally significantly lighter than vehicular bridges, they are more vulnerable to vibration and
therefore dynamicseffects are often given more attention in design. [11] International attention has been
drawn to this issue in recent years by problems on the Pont de Solfrino in Paris and the Millennium
Bridge in London.
To ensure footbridges are accessible to disabled and other mobility-impaired people, careful consideration
is also given to provision of access lifts or ramps, as required by relevant legislation (e.g. Disability
Discrimination Act 1995 in the UK).[11] Some old bridges in Venice are now equipped with a stairlift so that
residents with a disability can cross them.
[edit]Catwalk
For other uses, see catwalk (disambiguation).
Narrow footbridges or walkways to allow workers access to parts of a structure otherwise difficult to reach
are referred as catwalks or cat walks. Such catwalks are located above a stage (theater catwalk) in
a theater, between parts of a building, along the side of a bridge, on the outside of any large storage
tank in a refinery or elsewhere etc. The walkway on the outside (top) of a railroad cars such as boxcars,
before air brakes came into use, or on top of some covered hopper cars is also called acatwalk.[12] With
the exception of those on top of railroad cars, catwalks are equipped with railings or handrails.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footbridge

Vertical Clearance
http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/NetworkServices/Documents/02754.pdf