Helix Bridge
Helix Bridge | |
|---|---|
 The Helix Bridge at night | |
| Coordinates | 1°17′15″N103°51′40″E/ 1.28762°N 103.861°E |
| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Crosses | Marina Bay |
| Locale | Downtown Core,Singapore |
| Official name | The Helix[1] |
| Owner | Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Total length | 280 metres (920 ft) |
| History | |
| Architect | COX Group Pte Ltd (Australia) and Architects 61 (Singapore) |
| Designer | ARUP Pte Ltd (Australia) |
| Constructed by | Sato Kogyo Pte Ltd and TTJ Design and Engineering Pte Ltd |
| Construction start | 2007 |
| Opened | 24 April 2010 |
| Location | |
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TheHelix Bridge,officiallyThe Helix,[1]and previously known as theDouble Helix Bridge,is a pedestrianbridgelinkingMarina CentrewithMarina Southin theMarina Bayarea inSingapore.It was officially opened on 24 April 2010; however, only half was opened due to ongoing construction at theMarina Bay Sands.[1]The bridge was fully opened on 18 July.
Architecture[edit]
The design consortium is an international team comprisingAustralianarchitects theCox Architectureand engineersArup,and Singapore based Architects 61.[2]
Canopies (made offritted-glassand perforated steel mesh) are incorporated along parts of the inner spiral to provide shade for pedestrians. The bridge has four viewing platforms sited at strategic locations which provide views of the Singapore skyline and events taking place within Marina Bay.[3]At night, the bridge will be illuminated by a series of lights that highlight the double-helix structure, thereby creating a special visual experience for the visitors.[4]
Pairs of coloured letterscandg,as well asaandton the bridge which are lit up at night in red and green representcytosine,guanine,adenineandthymine,the four bases ofDNA.The intentional left handed DNA-like design, which is the opposite of normal DNA on earth, earned it a place in The Left Handed DNA Hall of Fame in 2010.[5]
TheLand Transport Authorityclaimed it is a world first in architectural and engineering bridge design.[6]It won the 'World's Best Transport Building' award at the World Architecture Festival Awards in the same year. It has also been recognised by theBuilding and Construction Authority(BCA) at the BCA Design and Engineering Safety Excellence Awards in 2011.
Construction[edit]
The Helix is fabricated from approximately 650 tonnes of Duplex Stainless Steel and 1000 tonnes of carbon steel used in the temporary structure and also helping the bridge to get the helix shape. The construction began in 2007. It was officially opened on 24 April 2010 but partially accessible.[1]The entire bridge was opened on 18 July 2010[7]to complete the entire walkway around Marina Bay.
Fabrication[edit]
Before any work began on the actual bridge, a mock-up was made of carbon steel to try and preempt certain difficulties. Fabrication of the elements worked from the North to the South, components being assembled into segments that could manage the Singapore roads. A trial assembly was done before delivery to site to identify any prefabrication errors.[8]
Quality control[edit]
The duplex stainless steel used is susceptible to contamination by carbon or zinc dust. So a dedicated workshop was specially set up to keep members for the Helix separate from other carbon and nitrogen steels.[8]
Temporary works[edit]
A temporary truss bridge was built to support the bridge and provide access. The key issue was in launching the trusses over the central 50m wide navigation channel that had to be kept clear during construction to give safe access to other users of the bay.
The truss was launched in segments in a synchronised lift with two mobile crane units. This was done at night to minimise disturbance caused by closing the channel.[8]
Permanent works[edit]
A mobile gantry crane was positioned on the temporary bridge to lift elements into place. Erection started from the North Abutment starting with the horizontal prefabricated segments (av. 11m long). Then the horizontal deck components were bolted on, and then cross members, hoop members, tension rods, and other loose members were installed working upwards from deck level.
The helices and their struts were installed. The individual elements of the helices being welded on the entire span had been erected. These crucial connections were very closely supervised and controlled to ensure the properties of the duplex steel were maintained. Finally a passivation process removed any surface iron compounds which are a potential source of corrosion.[8]
In popular culture[edit]
The bridge is featured in theHBOseriesWestworld,as part of itsthird season.[9]
It is featured inMario Kart TourandMario Kart 8 Deluxeas part of the Singapore Speedway course.[citation needed]
See Also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcdClaire Huang (24 April 2010)."Marina's pedestrian bridge named" The Helix ", vehicular bridge named" Bayfront Bridge "".Channel News Asia.Archived fromthe originalon 26 April 2010.Retrieved23 April2010.
- ^"Helix Bridge / Cox Architecture with Architects 61".ArchDaily.10 January 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.Retrieved19 August2016.
- ^"Marina Bay - Explore Marina Bay".Archived fromthe originalon 14 May 2008.Retrieved25 April2010.
- ^"Bayfront Bridge - Event Night Lighting".Archived fromthe originalon 1 March 2012.Retrieved25 April2010.
- ^"The Left Handed DNA Hall of Fame".Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2012.Retrieved11 March2023.
- ^"Bayfront Bridge - Innovative Structure".Archived fromthe originalon 1 March 2012.Retrieved25 April2010.
- ^"Largest double helix bridge".Guinness World Records.Archivedfrom the original on 10 November 2022.Retrieved10 November2022.
- ^abcdThe Institution of Engineers, Singapore. (August 2010). The Helx. The Singapore Engineer, pp. 8 - 17.
- ^"15 Real-Life Places Behind Westworld Season 3's Futuristic Cities".9 May 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 7 December 2022.Retrieved11 March2023.
External links[edit]
- 360° Interactive VR image of the Helix Bridge
- New Bridge at Marina Bay
- New landmark bridge for Marina Bay
Bridges on theSingapore River | ||
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| Authority control databases:Geographic |
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