It would be difficult for any aspiring civil engineer looking back through history to not be inspired by some of the truly staggering achievements in bridge engineering over the ages. In some cases conquering large-span crossings, remote locations, crossings of busy thoroughfares or deep gorges; however, these in themselves do not necessarily mean that they are landmark structures.
When we made the call for papers we defined ‘landmarks’ as structures that are easily recognisable or that may be of interest due to notable features, historical significance or be an external point of interest in a familiar or unfamiliar environment. The papers collected together for this journal meet this broad definition and, while some may not be iconic in the broadest sense of the word, they meet our definition of ‘landmark’.
Our first paper, Gazzola et al. (2015) describes the design and construction of a novel swing cable stay footbridge in the heart of the redeveloped Salford Quays in Manchester; a contemporary landmark bridge that crosses the historic Manchester Ship Canal, itself a landmark structure. The paper sets out the design development of the project, through construction and bridge operation.
The paper by Vaci (2015) on the Chain Bridge in Budapest describes the history of a unique structure that spans the Danube. This Habsburg-era structure remains an iconic structure in historic Budapest, as it has done throughout much of modern Hungarian history. The bridge itself has been through a torrid history, with the complete collapse of the deck and suspension system during the Second World War. It has been able to accommodate the changes in loading from horse-drawn to motor vehicle, and is still used for modern traffic over 160 years since its opening.
Liaghat (2015) describes design and construction of a new bridge in the centre of Rome and is the result of an international design competition.
A paper by Fukada et al. (2015) describes a number of stressed ribbon bridges in Japan, and the results of some analytical and test data on static and dynamic behaviour of the bridges. This unique form of structure provides an elegant cost-effective structure, which blends in with the landscape.
The paper on the Constantine Viaduct in Algeria by Asferg et al. (2015) discusses the design development of this new structure, which enhances a city already famous for its defining landmark bridges.
The paper by Sooman and Andrew (2015) on the Forth Bridge describes the challenging work that has taken place to bring this iconic structure back within the requirements defined by the Health and Safety Executive. The lessons learnt during this restoration will greatly help other structures of a similar age and importance and help maintain this structure for generations to come to be inspired.
Brown, Kuhendran and Marks (2015) present a paper on the design and construction of the Peace Bridge in Londonderry, the bridge being a landmark structure both in structural terms and for the role it provides in linking historically divided communities.
A paper on the railway bridges in Katanga, Congo, by Espion et al. (2015) illustrates some very innovative designs for its time and location, a reminder of iconic structures, which can sometimes be forgotten.
Also in a rapidly developing country is the Padma road and rail bridge in Bangladesh. Here, Sham (2015) gives details of the preliminary work for one of the major bridge projects over the next 5–10years, including assessment for scour, seismic and the resulting deep foundations. A bridge which will, upon completion, be a landmark structure in Bangladesh, bringing social and economic benefits.
We hope that you find these papers stimulating and informative. Readers are welcome and encouraged to comment on and discuss the content of the papers. Details on how to do this can be found at the end of each paper.
