Timber Bridge Conference

Abstract: Barriers to Modern Timber Bridges Becoming a Viable Alterna ve in New Zealand

Introduc on

The adop on of modern mber bridges in New Zealand presents a promising yet challenging
alterna ve to tradi onal steel and concrete structures. Despite the environmental and aesthe c
benefits, several barriers must be addressed to make mber bridges a viable op on.

These barriers include further understanding design requirements, market experience and a series of
technical challenges.

Design Requirements

Client organisa ons in New Zealand are increasingly interested in mber bridges due to their
sustainability and aesthe c appeal. However, current design standards, such as the Bridge Manual,
are primarily tailored for concrete and steel bridges, significant updates will be required to
accommodate mber bridge solu ons. Developing suitable design guidelines and standard details is
essen al to benchmark performance expecta ons and reduce the risk associated with adop ng new
technologies.

Market Experience

New Zealand's market currently lacks sufficient experience in mass mber construc on for bridges.
The pool of designers proficient in mass mber design is small, and contractors have minimal
experience with mass mber construc on, par cularly for horizontal infrastructure. Developing the
necessary depth of exper se will take me, delaying the widespread adop on of mber bridges.

At the ini al stages developing enough base knowledge to understand the sweet-spot for mber
bridges is required, to decide the appropriate type and loca on ideally suited for mber bridges, and
where they can be compe ve with other materials.

Further experience and understanding of the ini al construc on cost and life-cycle cost of mber
structures in required to inform the decision making process.

Technical Challenges

Timber bridges face several technical challenges that hinder their adop on. This includes
- Compe ng against refined steel and concrete designs, mber bridges o1en rely on simple spans
that aren’t as efficient.

- Structural depth constraints, par cularly for bridges over rivers or roads, demand minimal bridge
structure depth, which can be challenging to achieve with mber.
- Accommoda ng required geometry, tolerance, and pavement types, and ensuring long-term
performance through appropriate detailing are cri cal hurdles.

To overcome these barriers, a comprehensive research and development program similar to the
Nordic mber bridge ini a ve of the 1990s is recommended. Adequate funding is necessary to
support this program. Leveraging of the work already done in other countries it should focus on gaps
in research specific to New Zealand mass mber construc on and bridge design requirements. This
research programmes should be used to developing a NZ specific design guidance document,
standard design details that will set benchmarks for performance.

While modern mber bridges hold significant poten al as a sustainable alterna ve in New Zealand,
addressing the outlined barriers is crucial so for mber bridges to become a viable and compe ve
op on for new bridges.

Barriers to modern Timber Bridges becoming a viable alterna ve in NZ

Expecta ons of client organisa ons

- why do they want to push mber bridges, specifically, over other solu ons?

- pathways to modify/accept their current design requirements (e.g. Bridge Manual) to suit
mber bridge solu ons (how many departures would we need?)

-NZ based experience and competency – designer and contractor.

- This will take some me to develop sufficient depth within the market, so things wont
happen quickly

- Limited pool (at present) of designer competence in mass mber, let alone mber bridges

- Limited contractor experience with mass mber/heavy mber construc on

- Largely cost driven projects

- Lack of understanding of cost of mber structures
- Significant investment required to develop design to a level
- Designer experience – most bridge engineers in NZ have limited experience in mass mber
design.
- Experience – understanding on size/loca on type when mber bridge could honestly be a
viable op on – finding the sweet spot for mber bridges
- Designers/owner willing to take risk on something new

Technical
 - decide the appropriate type and loca on ideally suited for mber bridges, and determining
the op mum use of this typology.
- Compe ng against steel and concrete structures for which design has been refined over the
last 50+yrs. Composite construc on, con nuous spans, integral abutments.
- Timber bridges looking at simple spans that introduces deck joints and pier bearings which
we try to engineer out in other materials (we are back to 1960’s detailing)
- Structural depth – common constraint for bridges over rivers or road/rail is clearance
beneath the bridge. Therefore typically need to keep bridge structure depth as small as
prac cal.
- Bridge decks – accommoda ng required geometry and tolerance
- Pavements – suitable pavements type and being able to accommodate shrinkage movements
of deck
- Develop details suitable for NZ mber and treatment
- Connec on of roadside barriers to a mber deck
- detailing for long-term performance

- Development of principals requirements for mber bridges.

-

Common features

- Vehicle barriers
- Kerbs and medians

Design/technical limita ons

- sufficient understanding of materials and capaci es (e.g. vs steel or concrete elements)

- Appropriate design code provisions – AS/NZS1720.1 vs AS5100.x Are they set-up for
engineered mber product design?
- Compliance pathway – Bridge Manual and ?? for mber (esp engineered mber products)
- Materials acceptance compliance pathway – QA, ongoing tes ng & verifica on of products (

Recommenda ons

- Research and development programme similar to the Nordic mber bridge programme of
the 1990’s.
- Appropriate funding.
- Design guidance doc similar or Ontario Wood Bridge Reference Guide
- Development of standard details to set benchmark of performance
- Investment in research & development of cri cal aspects
-

Standardised design, solu ons and details… we’re going to be inven ng stuff a lot to figure out the
best way to do things in the first instance. It’ll take some me before we iden fy good
designs/details that others look to adopt and use in following designs. Benefits of standardisa on
and common knowledge in the market will be hard to realise, and take some me – (so kinda back to
the top) what are the expecta ons of organisa ons wan ng to adopt mber bridge solu ons

Abstract: Barriers to Modern Timber Bridges Becoming a Viable Alterna ve in New Zealand

Introduc on

The adop on of modern mber bridges in New Zealand presents a promising yet challenging
alterna ve to tradi onal steel and concrete structures. Despite the environmental and aesthe c
benefits, several barriers must be addressed to make mber bridges a viable op on.

These barriers include further understanding design requirements, market experience and a series of
technical challenges.

Design Requirements

Client organisa ons in New Zealand are increasingly interested in mber bridges due to their
sustainability and aesthe c appeal. However, current design standards, such as the Bridge Manual,
are primarily tailored for concrete and steel bridges, significant updates will be required to
accommodate mber bridge solu ons. Developing suitable design guidelines and standard details is
essen al to benchmark performance expecta ons and reduce the risk associated with adop ng new
technologies.

Market Experience

New Zealand's market currently lacks sufficient experience in mass mber construc on for bridges.
The pool of designers proficient in mass mber design is small, and contractors have minimal
experience with mass mber construc on, par cularly for horizontal infrastructure. Developing the
necessary depth of exper se will take me, delaying the widespread adop on of mber bridges.

At the ini al stages developing enough base knowledge to understand the sweet-spot for mber
bridges is required, to decide the appropriate type and loca on ideally suited for mber bridges, and
where they can be compe ve with other materials.

Further experience and understanding of the ini al construc on cost and life-cycle cost of mber
structures in required to inform the decision making process.

Technical Challenges

Timber bridges face several technical challenges that hinder their adop on. This includes
- Compe ng against refined steel and concrete designs, mber bridges o1en rely on simple spans
that aren’t as efficient.
- Structural depth constraints, par cularly for bridges over rivers or roads, demand minimal bridge
structure depth, which can be challenging to achieve with mber.

- Accommoda ng required geometry, tolerance, and pavement types, and ensuring long-term
performance through appropriate detailing are cri cal hurdles.

To overcome these barriers, a comprehensive research and development program similar to the
Nordic mber bridge ini a ve of the 1990s is recommended. Adequate funding is necessary to
support this program. Leveraging of the work already done in other countries it should focus on gaps
in research specific to New Zealand mass mber construc on and bridge design requirements. This
research programmes should be used to developing a NZ specific design guidance document,
standard design details that will set benchmarks for performance.

While modern mber bridges hold significant poten al as a sustainable alterna ve in New Zealand,
addressing the outlined barriers is crucial so for mber bridges to become a viable and compe ve