Performance in Lieu of Prescription in Bridge Design: Changi Airport Mezzanine Bridge, Singapore

As part of the current expansion to Changi Airport and the Mass Rapid Transit lines in Singapore, a unique bridge is to be incorporated within the new tunnel linking Terminals 2 and 3. The unusual physical circumstances and the aim to create an environment compatible with the intrigue and character of Singapore suited the adoption of a record-reaching 140-m low arch span for the centerpiece footbridge. With 200 m of shimmering glass cladding, the bridge will be an intimate part of the airport experience, though its in-service behavior and intricate frequency characteristics remain to be proved. These characteristics are similar to those of the recently completed London Millennium Bridge, the in-service behavior of which was unacceptable to the public. To determine the behavior of the Changi bridge during service and in ultimate conditions, it was found that performance as opposed to prescriptive design criteria was fundamental, in particular, its structural behavior under fire loading.