The next time you find yourself at the seating gallery of The Float at Marina Bay, take a peek at the adjacent construction site, and you may notice a unique spiralling structure extending towards the upcoming Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort.
This first helical segment of the new pedestrian bridge, affectionately called the “Double Helix” Bridge by many, was installed in early November 2008, partially revealing its distinctive design.
When completed by end-2009, the bridge will complete the 3.5 km waterfront loop around Marina Bay. It will create a seamless link from Marina Centre to the Bayfront area, making it possible for one to walk from Marina Centre to the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort in under five minutes.
Besides serving as a connector, the new landmark bridge will be an attraction in itself. It provides pedestrians and visitors with an uninterrupted stroll, offering them a unique and memorable experience with a panoramic view of Singapore’s city skyline. There will be four viewing “pods” that overhang the water, where they can stop to rest and watch events happening within the Bay.
Be treated to a complete and breathtaking view of the city skyline on the bridge
Designer Bridge
The link comprises two components — a vehicular bridge and a pedestrian bridge. The vehicular bridge runs parallel to Sheares Bridges and connects the future Bayfront Avenue and the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort to Raffles Avenue at the junction with Temasek Avenue.
When ready, the bridges will connect the attractions at Marina Bay
Meanwhile, the pedestrian bridge is designed with a uniquely spiralling steel structure that resembles the double helix structure of the human DNA, symbolising ‘life and continuity’, ‘renewal’, ‘everlasting abundance’ and ‘growth’. In addition, it reflects Singapore’s aspirations for Marina Bay.
Designed by Australian architects Cox Group and engineers Arup Pte Ltd, together with Singapore-based Architects 61, the 280-metre pedestrian bridge is the world’s first curved double helix bridge. The construction is an engineering feat that requires great precision in the fabrication and assembly process that is possible only with today’s advanced technologies.
Individual segments of the bridge are fabricated off-site, due to the sensitive nature of the special duplex stainless steel used, before they are delivered on-site for actual assembly.
- The bridge uses a special duplex stainless steel, commonly used in the chemical industry to transport highly corrosive materials. It was picked because of its ability to provide high structural strength and minimise maintenance.
- If all the steel tubes forming the major and minor helix are laid end to end, they will measure 2,250 metres long, almost the length of the 2.4 kilometre fitness run.
- The bridge weighs about 1,700 tonnes, equivalent to about 1,130 saloon cars.
- The structure of the bridge is designed to support up to 16,000 persons at any one time.
- Recreational pleasure boats can cruise through Marina Bay and Marina Channel as the bridge is built with a height clearance of 8.8 metres above water.
- The major and minor helix, which spiral in opposite directions, have an overall diameter of 10.8 metres and 9.4 metres respectively, or about three-storeys high.