Imagine walking through a giant DNA strand. That is the feeling you get when you walk across The Helix Bridge. This pedestrian bridge in Singapore is more than just a way to get from Marina Centre to Marina South. It is a work of art.
The Helix Bridge officially opened on April 24 2010. However only half of it was accessible then. Construction was still happening at Marina Bay Sands. The entire bridge opened on July 18 2010. It completed the walkway around Marina Bay.
The Helix Bridge design is from an international team. Cox Architecture and Arup from Australia worked with Architects 61 from Singapore. They created something truly special.
Walk along The Helix Bridge inner spiral. Canopies of fritted-glass and steel mesh offer shade. This protects you from the hot Singapore sun. Four viewing platforms give amazing views. Look out over the Singapore skyline and Marina Bay events.
At night The Helix Bridge comes alive. Lights highlight the double-helix structure. It is a stunning visual experience. Notice the colored letters. Red and green lights illuminate c and g, a and t. These represent cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine. These are the four bases of DNA. Interestingly, the DNA-like design is left-handed. This is opposite of normal DNA. It earned The Helix Bridge a place in The Left Handed DNA Hall of Fame in 2010.
The Land Transport Authority calls it a world first. It is innovative in architectural and engineering bridge design. The Helix Bridge won the World’s Best Transport Building award. This was at the World Architecture Festival Awards in 2010. The Building and Construction Authority also recognized it. This was at the BCA Design and Engineering Safety Excellence Awards in 2011.
The Helix Bridge is made from about 650 tonnes of Duplex Stainless Steel. Around 1000 tonnes of carbon steel helped create the helix shape. Construction started in 2007.
Before building The Helix Bridge, the team made a mock-up. This helped them find any construction problems early. They built the elements from north to south. Components were assembled into segments. This made it possible to transport them on Singapore roads. A trial assembly checked for errors before delivery.
To prevent contamination of the duplex stainless steel, a special workshop was set up. This kept the steel separate from other materials. A temporary truss bridge supported the bridge during construction. It also provided access. Launching the trusses over the navigation channel was difficult. It had to stay open for other users of the bay. The truss was launched in segments at night. This minimized disturbance.
Elements were lifted into place using a mobile gantry crane. Erection started from the North Abutment. Horizontal segments were bolted on first. Then came deck components, cross members, and tension rods. The helices and struts followed. Welding these connections needed close supervision. This ensured the duplex steel properties were maintained. Finally, a passivation process removed any surface iron compounds. This prevents corrosion.
The Helix Bridge has even appeared in popular culture. You might recognize it from the HBO series Westworld. It is also part of the Singapore Speedway course in Mario Kart Tour and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
So, as you walk across The Helix Bridge, remember its unique design. Think about the engineering. Appreciate this blend of art and science. It is a symbol of Singapore’s innovation.