but
a "Strong focus on aesthetics",
photograph by
Jan-Tore Egge, contributed to the bridge failing after just 10 years, thankfully with no loss of life, photographs below courtesy of the NSIA
it was the Tretten Bridge, over the Gudbrandsdalslågen river in the
Øyer area of southern Norway, which gave way as a heavy goods vehicle was crossing, completed
in only 2012, the glulam-and-steel truss bridge, was designed by Norwegian
architecture studio Plan Arkitekter and
engineering firm Norconsult for
the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA),
A
recent report by the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) was
critical of parties involved in the bridge's construction and management, "The
investigation has shown that inadequate caution was exercised in the planning,
design, inspection and approval of Tretten Bridge, with respect to the risk
factors linked to its unconventional design," the report said, "A
short construction period, span lengths and reuse of existing foundation were
framework conditions for the planning of the bridge," it continued, "These
framework conditions, combined with the choice of material and a strong focus
on aesthetics, contributed to the structure not being robust."
the Tretten Bridge was 148 metres long and 10.5 metres wide,
with a main span of 70 metres. A
report produced by Plan Arkitekter and Norconsult in 2013 gave the
bridge a life expectancy of 100 years, "As far as the Accident
Investigation Board is aware, there are no wooden and steel truss bridges in
the world that are comparable to Tretten Bridge," said the NSIA report
(translated from Norwegian), "The bridge was special both in terms of span
length and asymmetry, trusses in the same direction and the combination of wood
and steel." note to architects and designers, just because a project is strong on aesthetics, it does not mean it is safe! the article is here.
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