Fitzgerald Construction Australia was awarded the design and construction of this bridge which created a major new with direct access from Lower Terrace, Birrarung Marr over Batman Avenue and into Melbourne Park. It was a key part of the $ 338 M investment in Stage Two redevelopment of the precinct.
A ramping pathway through Birrarung Marr leads the bridge proper and its alignment respects the established bridges revealing the city’s history, orienting to civic markers, stitching together errant landscapes and connecting public space. The bridge further complements the landscape and provides a new vantage point over Speakers’ Corner where it makes an important connection between the historic landscape of Speakers Corner and the outside tennis courts of Melbourne Park across Batman Avenue.
A belvedere noses into the branching elm trees of Speakers’ Corner to provide a moment’s pause and a pulpit that could equally be for a spectator or a speaker depending upon the circumstances. Both of these existing spaces are steeped in egalitarian and democratic values, one with a history of regular citizens speaking freely on any subject; the other where a player of any ranking can pick up a tennis racquet in one of the sport’s great precincts.
The bridge has several roles, as a gateway to the city to pass under, as an integral part of the Birrarung Marr landscape, and as one of the civic experiences of Melbourne that leads to the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. It provides a significantly reduced amount of time it takes to walk from Flinders Street Station and Federation Square into Melbourne Park, with a more enjoyable entry experience for people attending the Australian Open.
Structurally, the bridge extends from Birrarung Marr over the Citylink Toll road of Batman Avenue into Melbourne Park over a length of approximately 300 m and a width of 8 metres (7.5 m clear width from handrail to handrail). The main bridge spans 44 metres with a 1100 mm deep steel box girder with 200 mm composite concrete deck. The use of the steel box girder highlighted how a lightweight steel section is produced to span over the busy Tollroad and bicycle pathway, yet be slender enough, to achieve vertical clearances over Batman Avenue and under the Federation footbridge whilst retaining accessibility ramps.
The challenges with construction stage deflections and the dynamic response under pedestrian loading were managed with a significant precamber and tuned mass dampers respectively. Positioning the box girder profile below the deck helped achieve Major Projects Victoria’s goal of both ‘the appreciation of the landscape from the bridge and the appreciation of the bridge from the landscape’.”
In supporting this goal, the filigree of fine steel tubing, 34 mm diameter that wraps the bridge’s edges and underside is reminiscent of steel trussed railway structures and the bare black branches of the park’s elm trees in winter – industrial and colonial landscapes. The fine steel circular sections create a voluminous belly below the bridge deck and draw a veil partially over its structure.
The scope of works included:-
- Protection of existing landscape in particular the long standing and heritage list Elm trees;
- Demolition of existing area of Margaret Court Arena;
- Supply and installation of steep tube piling, driven to refusal and border piles;
- Structural concrete footings and piers with structural steel box beams superstructure
- Supply and installation of electrical, security and hydraulic services;
- Construction of new office complex for Melbourne Olympic Parks;
- Hard and soft landscaping; and
- Management of up to 8 number stakeholders including Melbourne City Council, Tennis Australia, Citylink, Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, Bicycle Victoria, CitiPower, Victorian Government.
Tanderrum Bridge Project has received the following awards:
- International Architecture Awards 2018
- American Institute of Architecture Awards 2018
- 2018 AIA New England Regional Council Award
- 2017 Premier’s Design Award for Architectural Design
- Boston Society of Architects Award 2018
- Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Awards 2017
- 2018 Architecture MasterPrize Landscape Architecture/Urban Design
