Innovative design
The new Brighton Road Swing Bridge spans over the Murray Canal providing travellers access to Prince Edward County. Considered a true orthotropic steel deck girder bridge, the lightweight, innovative and durable bridge encompasses features the original steel truss bridge lacked: a two-lane structure with a full highway load rating and capacity to accommodate emergency services vehicles without restriction, as well as a pedestrian walkway. Understanding that the new bridge would represent a new chapter in the storied history of the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic site, WSP’s experts ensured a meticulous blend of carefully crafted structural, aesthetic and functional design features.
“Bobtail” Centre Pivot Swing Bridge
In contrast to the original structure built in 1947, the new structure designed by WSP is wider and features an unequal arm "bobtail" arrangement for the swing bridge to maintain the navigational clearance the original structure afforded. It features aesthetic enhancements, including open steel box beam barriers and haunched girders. It is balanced transversely by the selection of an appropriate cross-section, and the bridge's centre bearing is located 4.81 metres from the fascia of the bridge on the sidewalk side of the structure and 5.01 metres from the bridge's fascia on the other side of the structure.
Collaborative effort
The project entailed a close collaboration between WSP's multidisciplinary experts and our project partner, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. (WJE), who provided the design of the mechanical, electrical and hydraulic systems that power the structure. WSP's extensive regional footprint served beneficial for the client, as we were able to flexibly utilize different offices to meet the client's aggressive schedule. WSP is proud to have delivered a full continuum of services including:
- Geotechnical investigation and reporting
- Underwater investigations
- Structural design services
- Municipal design services
- Site electrical design services
- Construction administrative services
- Construction site inspection
