Timber Bridge Conference 2025
Barriers to modern Timber Bridges becoming a viable alternave in NZ
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Largely cost driven projects
LacS of finderstanding of cost of qmber strfictfires
Dignixcant investment re–fiired to develop design to a level
.esigner eEperience ( most bridge engineers in 19 6ave limited eEperience in mass qmber
design’
)Eperience ( finderstanding on siPeVlocaqon type K6en qmber bridge cofild 6onestly be a
viable opqon ( xnding t6e sKeet spot for qmber bridges
Tec6nical
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Compeqng against steel and concrete strfictfires for K6ic6 design 6as been rexned over t6e
last 50Oyrs’ Composite constrficqonW conqnfiofis spansW integral abfitments’
Timber bridges looSing at simple spans t6at introdfices decS joints and pier bearings K6ic6
Ke try to engineer ofit in ot6er materials GKe are bacS to I&304s detailing5
Dtrfictfiral dept6 ( common constraint for bridges over rivers or roadVrail is clearance
beneat6 t6e bridge’ T6erefore typically need to Seep bridge strfictfire dept6 as small as
pracqcal’
Bridge decSs ( accommodaqng re–fiired geometry and tolerance
6avements ( sfiitable pavements type and being able to accommodate s6rinSage movements
of decS
.evelop details sfiitable for 19 qmber and treatment
.evelopment of principals re–fiirements for qmber bridges’
Common featfires
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7e6icle barriers
8erbs and medians
Recommendaqons
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.esign gfiidance doc similar or :ntario ;ood Bridge Reference <fiide
.evelopment of standard details to set benc6marS of performance
=nvestment in researc6 > development of criqcal aspects