The panoramic Tirohanga Whānui Bridge at the top of Spencer Ridge in Auckland, New Zealand is used by more than 200 cyclists and pedestrians daily as an alternative to driving.

As part of the Auckland Roads Projects, the NZ Transport Agency commissioned an attractive footbridge to pass over the motorway north of the city. The bridge connects the vibrant Westfield Shopping Centre and adjacent business precinct with a thriving residential area.

Carl Stahl X-Tend mesh from Ronstan Tensile Architecture was specified for this bridge by Auckland architect Jeff Wells following the successful application of the mesh on the Dilworth Footbridge, located in the inner south of the city.

Ronstan engineered, designed and detailed the X-Tend mesh panels and connections, analysing, quantifying and resolving the mesh forces in the process for their partner, SRS Group, which installed the complex mesh for steel contractor Cullham Engineering. Cullham was responsible for the steel fabrication and installation of the footbridge.

Ronstan’s mesh covers two sections of the project – the mesh is installed above the bridge deck as fall arrest protection as well as below the deck where the stainless steel mesh encloses the services area. With its distinctive red steel finish and stainless steel mesh presenting an artistic, functional and eye-catching point of interest, the bridge is already developing as a local landmark.

This project was completed in early 2019 at Spencer Road in Albany, Auckland. In addition to design and engineering, Ronstan also supplied ACS3-SSM16 cable systems for the top cables (each with two joiners) and the CXEV20040 X-Tend mesh 2.0mm 40mm x 69mm diamond (vertically oriented).

All images by Mark Scowen Photography