Perry Bridge Network Arch—Elegance in Efficiency.

Perry Bridge is a 130 m long network arch pedestrian bridge, which carries the Te Awa River Ride walk and cycleway over the Waikato River, in the central North Island of New Zealand. This paper gives an overview of the internationally award-winning design, from development of the concept based on network arch theory, to the numerical modelling and computational analysis required to verify the design concept, along with the design of a unique cableway launch method used to install the bridge across the river. The paper also demonstrates how the use of an efficient, cost effective structural form has resulted in a very elegant bridge solution that has presented the project client with the opportunity to create a visually compelling focal point to help attract people to the cycleway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]