PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES ARE GENERALLY NOT PRACTICAL IN DOWNTOWN AREAS SINCE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS AT A PREMIUM FOR OTHER USES, PEDESTRIANS CANNOT BE FORCED TO USE THE STRUCTURES, AND SIGNALS ARE NEEDED TO HANDLE THE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC; HOWEVER, BRIDGES DO ELIMINATE VEHICLE-PEDESTIRAN CONFLICT WHICH MEANS A LOWER ACCIDENT RATE. THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN DETERMINING THE NEED FOR A PEDESTRIAN OVERCROSSING ARE VEHICULAR VOLUME ON THE STREET AND THE PEDESTRIAN VOLUME CROSSING THE STREET. A BRIDGE CONSTRUCTED IN PONTIAC, MICHIGAN, IS DESCRIBED AS THE FIRST ALUMINUM ARCH PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE WITH PREFABRICATED UPPER PORTION, INCLUDING THE WALKWAY, STAIRS, AND LANDING. THIS IS SO THAT THE ENTIRE BRIDGE CAN BE EASILY DISASSEMBLED AND MOVED TO ANOTHER LOCATION IF THE NEED ARISES. IT HAS A SPAN OF 100 FT. WITH AN ENVELOPE OF 60 FT. LONG WITH A 16 FT. MINIMUM CLEARANCE AND A RISE OF 30 FEET. A 6 FT. WIDE WALKWAY IS COMPLETELY ENCLOSED WITH ALUMINUM CHAIN LINK FENCE, INCLUDING THE TOP. A COMPUTER PROGRAM WAS USED TO DETERMINE THE ARCH CURVATURE FOR DIMENSIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND FOR DEFLECTION AND STRESS LEVELS.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 48, No 2, PP 6-9, 18, 6 PHOT
• Corporate Authors:

  AMERICAN ROAD BUILDERS' ASSOCIATION

  WASHINGTON, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Billingsley, J S
• Publication Date: 1971-2

Media Info

• Serial:
  • American Road Builder
  • Publisher: AMERICAN ROAD BUILDERS' ASSOCIATION

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum; Arch bridges; Arches; Bridge members; Computer programs; Crash rates; Deflection; Footbridges; Highway traffic; Length; Pedestrians; Prefabricated structures; Stresses; Walkways
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge spans
• Old TRIS Terms: Vehicular traffic
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00223454
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 10 2003 12:00AM