THE PARADIS BRIDGE - THE WORLD’S LONGEST COMPOSITE TRUSS-BRIDGE

The Paradis Bridge in a small suburb of Bergen, Norway, is an innovative structure that has redefined the future of bridge construction. This bridge was developed as part of a comprehensive infrastructure project to reduce traffic congestion on a busy road while pioneering modern bridge technologies.

THE IDEA

The idea behind the Paradis Bridge was to create a lightweight, durable and low-maintenance bridge for pedestrians and cyclists that could withstand the extreme weather conditions in the region. It had to overcome several technical challenges, including crossing a heavily trafficked light rail line as well as protection from corrosive road salt. Conventional materials such as steel and concrete were ruled out due to their high maintenance requirements and the restrictions imposed by the trains' overhead lines. Therefore, the decision was made to design a  composite bridge made of glass and carbon fibers to significantly reduce both weight and maintenance costs.

REINFORCING THIS IDEA

The Paradis Bridge was manufactured by CSUB, a leading company for composite technologies from Norway. CSUB was responsible for the entire production of the bridge at its factory in Eydehavn, Arendal.

As a leading supplier of multiaxial glass and carbon fiber fabrics, SAERTEX provided the essential materials needed to manufacture the bridge elements. It was important for CSUB to have a reliable supplier here. SAERTEX not only ensured that production capacities were available at short notice, but also supplied qualified materials that met the high demands of the project. At the same time, the consistently high quality of the products was just as important as the market accessibility of special fibers.

The selected non-crimp fabrics (NCFs) were processed using a vacuum infusion process to ensure maximum strength with minimum material consumption. The bridge consisted of three main parts: the bridge deck, the upper cross and the side truss structures, which were assembled after fabrication. CSUB worked closely with various partners to ensure that the materials and technologies met the specific requirements of the project and that all processes ran smoothly. The customer for the project was Vestland Fylkeskommune, supported by the technical partners Fireco, Multiconsult and Royal HaskoningDHV, who contributed their engineering expertise to the successful realization of the project.

An outstanding aspect of the project was the transportation of the bridge. The entire structure was manufactured as one piece and transported to its destination via a complex logistics chain of truck and ship transportation.

TECHNICAL BENEFITS

1. Lightweight: With a weight of only approx. 45 tons, the Paradis Bridge is considerably lighter than a comparable steel structure. This facilitated transportation and installation and reduced the foundation load.
2. Corrosion resistance and minimal maintenance: The use of composite materials make the bridge virtually maintenance-free and increases its service life to over 100 years.
3. Short installation time: The high level of prefabrication and the ability to transport the bridge as a whole minimized the impact on the existing infrastructure.
4. Increased design flexibility: The use of composite materials enabled flexible adaptation to the specific requirements of the project and promotes a modern design that now blends the bridge harmoniously into the industrial rail architecture.

THE SUCCESS STORY

The Paradis Bridge is not only an architectural highlight, but also proof of the performance of fiber composites in infrastructure construction. It impressively demonstrates how innovative materials and modern manufacturing techniques can contribute to the development of sustainable and durable infrastructure. The Paradis Bridge is a pioneering example of the future-oriented use of composites in bridge construction.

Photo credit: Vestland fylkeskommune & CSUB