Innovative and elegant bridges such as the Normandie Bridge and Millau Viaduct may be the last of their kind, according to their designer Michel Virlogeux. Writing in the latest issue (166 BE1) of the ICE Bridge Engineering journal, the ICE Gold Medal winner blames increasingly short-sighted budgetary and environmental constraints.
Leading factors resulting in sub-standard designs
Virlogeux cites the decline in central government involvement in bridge design as one of the main causes. This he says, has resulted in local authorities running their own design competitions, which are dominated by inexperienced architects. The result is that they ‘frequently lead to expensive, structurally inefficient and sometimes ridiculous bridges.’
At the other extreme, budget considerations have meant that the ‘lowest possible cost’ designs by public-private concessions are often selected. In particular, for large bridges designed by major concession companies, ‘no serious consideration can be given to bridge architecture against cost and erection efficiency.’
Designs with minimal visual impact
Virlogeux criticises environmental authorities for favouring designs with minimum visual impact. This means that designs are very poor and degrade the site: ‘The authorities help all those who want to change the design to a more ordinary one, losing the initial unity and elegance.’
About the author
Michel Virlogeux was formerly employed at Setra, the technical service of the French Highway Administration, and is now a bridge design consultant in Bonnelles, France. He was awarded the ICE Gold Medal in 2005 for his role in the development of external pre-stressing and of composite and cable-stayed bridges. He was also awarded the medal for his role in promoting civil engineers as designers and creators.
For more information, please contact the ICE Proceedings editor Simon Fullalove on +44 20 7665 2448 or at editor@ice.org.uk.