Our first overseas AquaDeck project secured thanks to the design and manufacture of a quality bespoke stainless steel bridge drainage solution
In May 2022 we were approached by our European distributor to take a look at a stunning bridge in the beautiful town of Aarburg in Switzerland.
The Maillart Bridge crosses the Aare below the castle rock of Aarburg, where the river is forced through a narrow passage to the north by a ridge.
The concrete bridge has a single arch with a span of 72 meters and a width of 9.5 meters. A roadway lies on top of the arch.
This bridge was created in 1911/12 by the well-known concrete bridge pioneer Robert Maillart (1872-1940). His designs have influenced architects and engineers around the world for decades.
The bridge in Aarburg had been extensively renovated in 1968 and 1996. And last year in 2022, further works were commissioned by the two cantons responsible for the structure – Solothurn and Aargau, and this time drainage was a key consideration for the project.
Faced with different construction depths, kerb heights and general layouts, as well as a very specific remit regarding aesthetics, we came up with a bespoke design for our AquaDeck units – manufacturing them from stainless steel rather than ductile iron.
This new steel design was proposed in June 2022; it was well received and soon after approved for use by the engineers.
The first steel AquaDeck protypes were manufactured in just under three weeks. The technical team oversaw load testing and carried out quality assurance checks before the samples were approved and the order received from our distributor.
In total, 80 metres of drainage length were manufactured and installed; the layout incorporated outlet units and a bespoke cycle crossing, buried between the pavement and carriageway.
As part of our submission we proposed that the logos of the two cantons who were financing and maintaining the structure should also be incorporated into the design of the units. Laser etching was used to achieve this, working from actual logos which were replicated onto etching plates.
With AquaDeck now fully installed and the renovation works complete, the stunning Maillart Bridge looks resplendent as a beautiful and eye-catching piece of architecture in the historic town of Aarburg.
The client was delighted with the bespoke drainage solution that we were able to design and manufacture for them.
Who was Robert Maillart?
Robert Maillart (16 February 1872 – 5 April 1940) was a Swiss civil engineer who revolutionized the use of structural reinforced concrete with such designs as the three-hinged arch and the deck-stiffened arch for bridges, and the beamless floor slab and mushroom ceiling for industrial buildings, helping influence decades of architects and engineers after him.
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Discover the AquaDeck combined kerb drainage system
AquaDeck is designed specifically for use on bridges and elevated highways or where construction depths are limited. Manufactured with SmartGrip Technology and designed to be ultra strong and highly durable – AquaDeck is fully compliant to the Harmonised European Standard BSEN1433 and carries the new UKCA Mark, which is required by law by January 2025.
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