Hulme Arch Bridge
Hulme Arch Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Hulme Arch Bridge, with Beetham Tower in the background. | |
| Coordinates | 53°28′05″N 2°14′45″W / 53.468°N 2.2458°W |
| Carries | Road, pavement |
| Crosses | Princess Road |
| Locale | Hulme |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 50 m |
| Width | 17 m |
| Height | 25 m |
| History | |
| Construction start | May 1996 |
| Construction end | April 1997 |
| Opened | 10 May 1997 |
| Location | |
 | |
The Hulme Arch Bridge is a bridge in Hulme, Manchester, England. It supports the Stretford Road over Princess Road,[1] and is located at grid reference SJ838968. It was one of Manchester's first modern bridges,[2] and formed part of the regeneration of the Hulme region of Manchester, both by re-establishing the former route of Stretford Road (which had been cut into two halves by the construction of Princess Road in 1969) and by providing a local landmark.[3] The location was previously occupied by a footbridge.[4]
The design was selected in June 1995. Construction started in May 1996, and was completed in April 1997. The bridge was formally opened on 10 May 1997 by Alex Ferguson,[3] in a ceremony including the Mayer of Manchester and Anthony Wilson. The ceremony was concluded by them being driven over the bridge in a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, and was followed by a street festival.[5]
Design and construction
The design of the bridge was selected via a two-staged, closed design competition, commissioned by Hulme Regeneration Ltd and Manchester City Council.[1][6] The first stage of the competition was held in March 1995, and had six entries. The winning design was selected in June, and was from architects Chris Wilkinson Architects, with the structural engineer being Ove Arup & Partners.[1][3] The reference for the design of the bridge was Eero Saarinen's Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.[6]
The bridge consists of a 50 m bridge deck, consisting of three 17 by 17 m steel and concrete decking segments, covered with tarmac.[1] The desk is supported by twenty two 51 mm diameter[6] spiral steel cables originating from both sides of a 25 m high arch. The arch is made of six prefabricated steel box sections, and spans the bridge diagonally.[1] The bridge is illuminated at night.[6]
The arch is supported by a pair of 8.5 by 6.5 by 5.5 m concrete blocks, which bears most of the weight of the bridge. The deck is supported by piled abutments, which incorporate areas for bearing and expansion joint inspection and maintenance. The arch is kept in shape by a number of internal stiffeners and diaphragms, with the crowning section filled with concrete. To minimise internal rust, the lower sections of the arch were coated with a vapour corrosion inhibitor, with portholes with removable covers inserted into the arch so that the inside can have additional coats applied in the future.[3]
The three sections of decking were assembled on the broad central reservation of Princess Road, and were craned into position over a weekend when Princess Road was closed.[1] The decking was temporarily supported by trestles until the arch was ready.[3] The six sections of the arch were welded together on site into two halves before being lifted into position during a second weekend.[1] The cables were connected on third weekend.[3]
The bridge has been described by the structural engineers as "a perfect example of how imaginative design combined with leading-edge engineering technology can be used to create a landmark structure which captures the public's imagination."[3] In 1997 the bridge was shortlisted for the British Construction Civil Engineering Award. In 1998, the bridge received four awards: the RIBA Award for Architecture, a Structural Steel Design Awards Commendation, a Civic Trust Award Commendation and the Institute of Civil Engineers Merit Award.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Hulme Arch Bridge". Arup. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ Moss, John (24 November 2006). "Manchester's New Bridges". Retrieved 2008-03-29.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g Hussain, N. (1999). "The Hulme Arch Bridge, Manchester". ICE Proceedings, Civil Engineering. 132: 2–13.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Hulme Arch Bridge project". Arup. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ "Eyewitness in Manchester, 11 May 1997". Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ a b c d e "Examples of modern bridge design". Corus. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
Further reading
- "This way for a new beginning". Building Design: 24–25. 28 July 1995.
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