Posted to News on 23rd Nov 2006, 17:11
Lindapter provides high-integrity fixings for bridge project
Lindapter steelwork fixings have been used for safely attaching much of the flooring and walkway structures required to create the new 'Story Bridge Adventure Climb' - a recent addition to Brisbane's tourist attractions.
The 'Story Bridge Adventure Climb' takes tourists to the top of the 80m high Story Bridge in Brisbane, Australia, providing spectacular 360-degree views of the city from a vantage point over the River Brisbane.
Project engineers Dare Sutton Clarke chose to make extensive use of fixing clamps, as the technology minimises any weakening effect on the primary steelwork and damage to the protective coatings - unlike drilling and welding. Lindapter's fixings were preferred because of the company's quality manufacturing systems and its field-proven pedigree on many similar projects, including the well-known tourist climb across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Various types of fixing are used on the structure. These include Lindapter Floor Fixings, which are highly resistant to vibration and avoid all need for drilling and welding, and Lindapter Cavity Fixings, which provide a safe means of connecting to the bridge's RHS (rectangular hollow section) steel members. In both cases, attachment could be made with access from one side only, in many instances eliminating expensive scaffolding and saving considerable installation time.
The new Story Bridge Adventure Climb is one of only three bridge climbs in the world - the others being in Sydney and Auckland. It takes tourists up and over the first main pier to the centre of the cantilever bridge where tourists then cross over above the six-lane road, before returning back over the summit.
Advantages of clamping technology
Scott Brook of Lindapter's Australian support centre in Mount Druitt comments: "The Story Bridge Adventure Climb really exemplifies the virtues of fixings in secondary steelwork. The technology has minimised the effects on the existing primary steelwork and eliminated much of the on-site drilling and welding required, in many cases avoiding the need for scaffolding and platforms required for the operations as well. We are very proud to be associated with this prestigious project."
The Story Bridge was designed by Queenslander Dr John Bradfield. It took five years and 12,000 tonnes of structural steel and 1650 tonnes of reinforcing steel to build, and opened in 1940. It is 1072m long from the southern to northern anchor piers, and the span across the River Brisbane is 282 metres.
