Burj Khalifa Access Bridge Design/Build

Modjeski and Masters (M&M) was called upon to develop preliminary designs for several access bridges within the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper, park and gardens. The initial assignment included two pedestrian bridges and two emergency vehicle bridges. There were more than a few challenges. Most significant among them was having to work in a design/build environment, under an accelerated design schedule no less,  for a client located 8,000 miles and several time zones away. Our engineers responded by successfully developing the preliminary designs within an incredibly short six-week time frame. The site-specific bridge designs included one two-span and one three-span reinforced concrete voided slab structure, curved in both plan and elevation for the vehicular bridges. The pedestrian bridges, which also function as viewing platforms, followed an S-shaped curvature in plan and featured multi-span steel superstructures. M&M was responsible for the substructure design of the pedestrian bridges. After we submitted the preliminary design plans, the client decided to reduce the scope of the project.

They requested that M&M prepare final design plans for just one pedestrian bridge, which was now on tangent instead of S-shaped. This bridge featured a five-span post-tensioned reinforced concrete voided slab superstructure, approximately 88m in length, framed on each end by retained fill ramp structures with approach slabs. The superstructure was supported by single-column reinforced concrete bored piers. Although our designs were developed in accordance with our client’s needs, they were not constructed. Competing design packages were selected for construction, not an unusual outcome for transportation projects in the United Arab Emirates.