Australia's impressive Matagarup bridge

A spectacular bridge that adapts to the landscape with a sequence of unfolding vistas, connects Australia‘s east Perth to the city’s recently built Optus Stadium.

The $91.5 million project that provides access to the new 60,000-seat stadium consists of undulating steel structures that engage harmonically with the surrounding landscape by a series of unfolding views. At its highest point, it reaches a height of 72 meters while stretching 370 meters from bank to bank, with a steel cable-stay span of 160 meters at its center. Its structural shape resembles two flying swans, with the bridge arches representing the wishbones. These steel components, measuring 120m. long x 35m. wide, were carefully transferred from the site in burswood onto barges on the swan river before being lifted by a mega jack for assembly.

Denton Corker Marshall is the company that designed the construction. The team consisted of both England and Australian architects. To realize the innovative yet challenging project, the city of Perth, Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, Swan River Rust, Public Transport Authority and Western Australia Planning Commission cooperated together. The designers state: “The brief was complex with an overriding aim to create excellent and innovative urban design that reflects Perth’s ‘sense of place’ as well as being a spectacular gateway to the new Burswood stadium.”

Transport minister, Rita Saffioti, said: “This project has been one of the most technically difficult constructions ever undertaken in Western Australia and the local workforce has embraced the challenge and done an outstanding job.”

Source: Designboom.com Architectureau.com