While Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) has long been transforming the world of construction, including bridge construction, it has only recently entered the Indian market. However, it is a commonly used alternative to steel globally, given its strength and affordability, amongst other various benefits. Especially when it comes to bridge construction, features like anti-corrosion, resilience, and anti-conductivity become imperative. GFRP is synonymous with these very qualities, which is why some of the most iconic international bridges rely on it for their construction.
Here are a few of them.
1. Halls River Bridge, Florida, USA
Completed in 2016, this bridge in Citrus County was the first GFRP-reinforced bridge deck in Florida. Given Florida’s coastal environment and the high risk of corrosion from saltwater, GFRP was chosen over traditional steel to ensure long-term durability. The project marked a significant milestone in the adoption of non-metallic reinforcement in U.S. public infrastructure.
2. Aberfeldy Footbridge, Scotland
This was the UK’s first major footbridge made entirely with GFRP in 1992. Built in Aberfeldy, Scotland, the bridge was designed to connect two parts of a golf course across the River Tay. It features a glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) deck and two A-shaped towers made of the same material. When it opened, its 64-meter main span was the longest of its kind in the world. Although the bridge was originally built for pedestrians, it was later reinforced with GFRP to also carry golf buggies.
3. No-Name Creek Bridge, USA
This was the first all-FRP road bridge in the United States, built in Kansas in 1996. It spans a small creek and stretches 8 meters across. Its deck is made of a sandwich structure, featuring GFRP skins with a honeycomb core, which promises both strength and a lightweight design. Though simple in appearance, this small bridge was a milestone with its use of FRP for vehicle traffic.
4. Kolding Bridge, Denmark
This Danish bridge was the first FRP footbridge to be built over a busy railway line. Completed in 1997, the 40-meter-long bridge is entirely made from glass fibre-reinforced polymer. It features two spans and is supported by GFRP cables and pylons made from standard FRP profiles. Despite its size, the bridge weighed only 12.5 tonnes, which is almost half as much as a steel version. Another interesting fact is that it was installed in just 18 hours!
5. Moss Canal Bridge, UK
The Moss Canal Bridge in Rochdale marked another milestone in 2011, especially with the use of FRP for the bridge deck. The old concrete deck was deteriorating, so it was replaced with a new FRP deck using large, double-web beam profiles. These beams were made from E-glass fibres in vinylester resin and spanned 9 meters across the canal. Thanks to the lightweight nature of FRP, installation and fabrication were much faster and cheaper than traditional materials.
6. St. Austell Bridge, UK
The first all-FRP structure on the UK rail network, this footbridge has three spans measuring 5 m, 14 m, and 6 m, and rests on existing masonry piers and abutments. The deck is 1.42 m wide and has a ‘U’-shaped cross-section, made from pultruded FRP elements and covered with a moulded FRP shell.
7. Dover Seawall Footbridge, England
Located near the coastal town of Dover, England, the Dover Seawall footbridge at Wellards Way provides pedestrian-only access to the beach. Installed in January 2017, it consists of two simply supported FRP truss spans, each 14.5 m long. This bridge replaced a previous steel structure that was damaged by flooding along the railway. The superstructure combines 3.325 m high pultruded FRP truss elements with infused FRP deck and parapet sections that feature a foam core.
These pioneering bridge structures show how GFRP Rebar can offer lighter, faster, and more durable alternatives to traditional bridge-building methods. As technology advances, we’re likely to see even more impressive projects with smart materials like GFRP, even in India.
Also Read –
5 Shocking Ways GFRP Rebar Saves You Lakhs in Construction Costs
How GFRP Rebar Enhances the Lifespan of Bridge Infrastructure