Anaklia-Ganmukhuri Pedestrian Bridge

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Serving as a vital link across the Enguri River to the Black Sea resort town of Anaklia, Georgia, the Anaklia-Ganmukhuri Pedestrian Bridge is considered the longest cable-stayed timber bridge in Europe and possibly the world. Originally conceived as a 500m long steel bridge, cost challenges proved to be prohibitive. A partnership established between a local contract and international timber specialists devised this more cost effective timber alternative consisting of ten spans, with two spans cable supported from concrete pylons.  The primary bridge structure is a triangulated truss, roughly 3.5-metres-high, constructed with glulam chords and diagonals and a 65mm thick timber floor diaphragm.

Judge's comment:

Overcoming significant challenges, the elegant result achieved by the designers which extends confidence in the use of timber in large scale structures.