6th Street Cable-Stayed Bridge
Erection engineering for a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge connecting Courtenay’s active transportation network.
Client: Surespan Group of Companies Ltd.
Location: Courtenay, BC
Project Type: Bridges
About This Project
The 6th Street Cable-Stayed Bridge is a landmark pedestrian and cycling crossing that strengthens active transportation connections within the City of Courtenay. Featuring a striking cable-stayed design, the bridge required meticulous planning and engineering to ensure every stage of assembly progressed safely and accurately toward its final configuration.
ISL provided erection engineering services as a subconsultant to Surespan Group of Companies Ltd., developing the methodology that guided the bridge from its first lifted components to its completed form. The team prepared a comprehensive erection manual, designed temporary support systems and crane lifting plans, established stay cable installation and stressing procedures, and developed the survey and monitoring requirements that supported each stage of the build. Detailed structural analysis verified that geometry, and member demands remained within acceptable limits as the structure evolved.
Working in close collaboration with the contractor, ISL reviewed survey data throughout the project to verify alignment, respond quickly to field conditions, and confirm each milestone before work advanced. This proactive approach minimized risk, maintained structural balance during cable stressing, and ensured the bridge achieved its intended profile while supporting a smooth and efficient construction process.
Challenges
- Challenge: The cable-stayed bridge required precise control of geometry and alignment throughout construction to achieve the intended final profile.
- Challenge: The stay cable system required careful sequencing and stressing to maintain structural balance and support the developing bridge structure.
- Challenge: The erection sequence was tightly interdependent, with the bridge’s geometry and behaviour shifting at every stage. Each stage built on the state of the one before, and none could advance until the current one was confirmed on target.
Solutions
- Solution: ISL analyzed each stage of construction to set a target geometry, then defined the verification requirements the contractor used to check against it. Those checkpoints let the contractor monitor movement, confirm alignment and catch deviations early, before they could carry into the final profile.
- Solution: ISL developed the methodology for installing and stressing the stay cables, setting the procedure, sequence and target force for each step. Following this procedure kept the structure balanced as load transferred into the cables and brought the deck to its intended profile.
- Solution: ISL reviewed the survey and monitoring data as construction progressed, in close and continuous communication with the contractor. That open channel let ISL respond quickly to field conditions and confirm each stage before the next began.
Key Features
- Erection engineering for a cable-stayed active transportation bridge
- Comprehensive superstructure erection methodology and manual
- Stage-by-stage geometry control and structural analysis
- Stay cable installation and stressing procedures
- Temporary support structure and crane lifting design
- Construction monitoring, survey verification, and field support
