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Earth must be happy to see world's first heavy traffic road bridge made of wood, non-toxic, sequesters carbon
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On Saturday November 29th, the successful transportation and installation of the world’s first heavy traffic road bridge made from Accoya wood took place. The bridge, located in Sneek in the Netherlands, is the first wooden bridge in the world that can support the heaviest load class of 60 tons. Spanning 105 feet and rising more than 50 feet in the air, the structure will serve as a grand entrance to the city of Sneek.
When designing their masterpiece, OAK Architects specified Accoya® wood because of its many benefits, including high strength to weight ratio, enhanced durability and dimensional stability, non-toxicity and aesthetics. The wood used in the bridge’s dramatic design not only makes it look impressive but performs also the important function of bearing the traffic load. Accoya® wood also has superior UV resistance and made from sustainably grown timber and these things were also considerations. Wood naturally sequesters carbon, helping to combat the effects of global warming.
Akkerwinde, as the wooden bridge is known, represents a milestone, not only for Titan Wood but also for the international building and civil engineering community as a whole. Finlay Morrison, CEO of Titan Wood, said, “Accoya® wood represents a new era in building technology. We are taking a traditional building material and improving it, which allows it to be used in new and innovative ways. Accoya® wood, a green product through and through, allows builders and architects to think out of the box, while at the same time doing their part for the environment.”
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Photos courtesy of Contemporist, Enerpac, and Flicker / marjan_deblaauw
Original Source: Contemporist
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Impressive work and design! Never thought that I could see a bridge that is made of wood yet I can see its strength to handle it but how long it would take? Will it also last for decades as the steel bridges perform?
I've build wood bridges that were designed to carry a lot heavier loads here in British Columbia Canada and a quick search found that the US Forest Service has many wood bridges that can carry 102 ton logging trucks (U102) and 90 ton log loaders (L90). The longest clear span I've heard of so far was 121 ft.
I congratulate the City of Sneek for using wood and encourage more of it but the jury is still out one who had the first, who has the longest and whose can carry the most.
You've got to see this wooden bridge. Beautiful and creative.