The highway had to cross a unique city feature, the Millennium Garden Corridor. The Transportation Division of Acres International was invited to design an overpass which would provide a thoroughly modern engineering solution while respecting the spirit of the Millennium Garden.
The bridge has seven spans, and its total length is 350 metres. One requirement was that it should be built to North American standards; Acres followed the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code, and the design uses voided post-tensioned concrete construction techniques - the first ever in Kazakhstan. Concrete traffic barriers between the lanes and the sidewalks, and aluminum handrails, contribute to vehicle and pedestrian safety.
Aesthetics were equally important, since the bridge is a major component at the center of the new city. The section of the Millennium Corridor beneath the bridge, which allows pedestrian access to Central Square, is made more attractive by the use of unique wing-shaped soffits that allow natural light to enter during the day, and reflect artificial lighting at night. Bridge design harmonizes with the architecture of existing buildings; for example, piers consist of two columns tied together by an arch.
Special steps were taken, including a presentation to the President of Kazakhstan, to make sure that the client could properly visualize the finished structure, in situ. Acres called for help from Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, in preparing a 3D simulation of both a flyover and walkthrough of the existing Millennium Corridor and surrounding buildings, with the new bridge in place. Technical details were described in multi-media presentations, in both English and Russian.
In addition to creating an elegant solution to a major city planning challenge, Acres is also introducing new technology to the country, and setting standards for future bridge building projects.
For further information please contact Nancy Rezkalla, Corporate Marketing at nrezkalla@acres.com