A 3D-printed concrete bicycle bridge

In 2017, the world’s first 3D-printed bicycle bridge was taken into operation. This unique structure is part of a new ring road around the town of Gemert. Witteveen+Bos was responsible for the structural design and engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology printed the bridge, and BAM Infra assembled and installed it.

The bridge consists of approximately 800 printed layers, was printed at Eindhoven University and assembled on-site. 3D concrete printing is a unique and promising production method that requires less construction materials and no formwork. This results in less waste and it reduces consumption of scarce resources. The bridge was longitudinally prestressed along its axis, and the layers were reinforced at the same time as the concrete was being printed. The cycling bridge is a world first, and the technology has great potential for other applications in construction projects. The savings in material usage and the reduction of CO2 emissions are in keeping with the sustainable design principles of ‘Circular design’ and ‘Trias Energetica’.

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