An extensive public consultation process led to the Provencher Paired Bridges solution, consisting of both vehicular and pedestrian bridge structures, to replace the existing Provencher Vehicular Bridge which had reached the end of its service life. The new Provencher Pedestrian Bridge is a two-span, 200-m-long, 5-m-wide cable-stayed bridge that spans the Red River in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. The signature feature of the bridge is its transversely inclined pylon developed to provide a continuous walkway and to help balance the dead load forces. One major innovative focus is the structural health monitoring (SHM) which has been incorporated in the design throughout the pedestrian bridge structure, in association with ISIS Canada. The design of the SHM system required the collaboration of a diverse group of engineers and provided a unique opportunity for engineering students at the University of Manitoba to participate in this state-of-the-art project. The performance of the cable-stayed bridge can be continuously monitored and evaluated using an interactive, remotely-monitored Data Acquisition System.
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