Recently, the construction of Barekamutyun bridge started across the Debed River at Sadakhlo-Bagratashen state border, as reported by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. At what stage are the construction works? “At present, work is underway on concreting the preparatory layer of the first coastal pillar, as well as excavation work on drilling, concreting and access roads of the first intermediate pillar,” the Road Department SNCO informed us. It is planned to build two parallel bridges, each with two pedestrian crossings and a sidewalk. “The construction of new bridge is a joint project of two countries - the Republic of Armenia and Georgia. When designing the bridge, the best international experience was used, and the construction norms and standards of the two countries were combined, which will ensure high quality, high degree of use of this infrastructure for many years,” said the Road Department SNCO. The bridge is equipped with outdoor lighting and drainage system. Construction work should be completed within 12 months, that is, in April 2022, the bridge should be commissioned. The construction of the bridge is financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the governments of Armenia and Georgia, and coordinated by Joint Armenian-Georgian Intergovernmental Commission. As a reminder, on February 15, 2018, we wrote about the construction of Barekamutyun bridge, for which an international tender was held. 7 organizations participated, 3 of which were shortlisted. As a result, the winner of the international competition was the Iranian construction company Ariana Tunnel Dam Co., which will provide warranty service for another two years after the bridge is put into operation.

The new bridge named "Barekamutyun" (translated "Friendship" from the Armenian) will become a kind of symbol in the centuries-old friendship between Armenia and Georgia and will further strengthen neighbor’s good ties. Construction of the bridge is planned on the span of Debet River at Bagratashen-Sadakhlo border pass. The project will be implemented through a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The project is coordinated by the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission. For the construction and design of the bridge on January 15 of this year, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies of RA signed an agreement with the Iranian company Ariana Tunnel Dam Co. To implement this project an international competition was held through the electronic platform of the bank. The Iranian company with price offer of 7,393,347.95 euros won the competition where 7 companies took part. The new bridge will be built to the left side of the old one and construction work should be completed by 2020. At present, the bridge construction in its design stage. It is planned to build separate structures for two directions. Each structure will consist of main bridge with a length of 160 meters with 5 spans (5x32) and two entrances with 2 spans (28+28). Each direction will have a road width 8.6 m consisting of two traffic lanes, two 1.5 m wide sidewalks and one 0.75 m sidewalk between the lanes. So, the total width of one direction will be 12.45 m. According to preliminary data, the height of the new bridge above the river’s level will be approximately 14 meters. After the commissioning of the new bridge the old one will remain as an alternative passage for various state delegations.

A nearly 500 meters bridge for hikers built as the longest hanging pedestrian bridge in the world opened near the Swiss town of Zermatt. The 494 meters long and 65 centimeters wide bridge named the Europe Bridge, hangs up to 85 meters above Grabengufer ravine. It replaces a previous bridge that had been damaged by rock falls. The Zermatt Tourist Board says it is the world’s longest, although a 405 meter bridge in Reutte in Austria hangs 110 meters higher above the ground. Built by local company swissrope/Lauber Seilbahnen during 10 weeks, the bridge completes a section of the Europaweg trail, a high-altitude walking route offering panoramas of some of Switzerland’s highest peaks, including the Dom (4,545m) and the Matterhorn. The new bridge, whose cables weigh about eight tones, is equipped with a system to prevent it from swinging, the Zermatt Tourist Board said.

If centuries ago famous architect Antonio Gaudi heard that his masterpiece Sagrada Familia construction will be completed with 3D printers, he would be surprised. However, 3D printers are successfully implemented in construction processes. For example, Emerging Objects Company created 3D printed ceramic cool bricks, Chinese company WinSun 3D printed a five-story apartment building and a 110 square meters villa , American architect Adam Kushner plans to build the newest 3D-printed estate . World's first 3D printed home constructed in Amsterdam Today the innovative Dutch construction company Heijmans has unveiled their latest avant-garde project: a 3D-printed steel bridge in the heart of Amsterdam. A new bridge created in collaboration with Dutch startup MX3D and designed by Dutch designer Joris Laarman. Multi-axis industrial robots will construct the pedestrian bridge using cost-effective and scalable technologies. MX3D equips multi-axis industrial robots with 3D printing tools and develops software so that the robots print metals, plastics and combinations of materials in virtually any format. From large construction to small part - with this technique MX3D can 3D print strong, complex structures of durable material. The new technique is cost-effective and scalable, more than current 3D printing methods, and offers creative robot production solutions for art, construction and more. The goal behind the experimental 3D-printing project is the eventual creation of an automatic construction site. According to Jan van de Ven, Heijmans' Manager of Business Development, the use of 3D printing for construction purposes also has benefits in the design sector and, once popularized, can revolutionize the way we approach the design/build process. "Construction and design are currently rather separate factors in construction - the architect design something and the constructor interprets the design and builds what he thinks is needed. But using 3D printing for a bridge makes design and construction operate hand-in-hand. For instance, both activities are done at the same time, instead of first building the structure and then adding the design later. This means we will also have to start looking at design in a completely different manner." The location of the bridge has not yet been determined but will be announced soon. The pedestrian bridge will span one of Amsterdam's old canals and has been described by designer Joris Laarman as a "fantastic metaphor for connecting the technology of the future with the city's historic past, in a way which would reveal the best aspects of both worlds." From September 2015 a visitor center opens for the public, where the progress of the project can be followed. MX3D and the City of Amsterdam will announce the exact location of the bridge soon.

China will soon finish construction on what will be the world's tallest and longest glass pedestrian bridge, floating 300 meters above a canyon in the Zhangjiajie National Park. Designed by Israeli architect, Haim Dotan, the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge will be 380 meters long, 6 meters wide and feature a transparent glass floor. This extreme bridge aspires to become a "Wonder of the World" and continues the Chinese trend of delivering unique architecture that tests the limits of human ingenuity. The bridge will comprise two side steel beams, a structural glass deck, handrails and side suspension cables, with the capacity to hold up to 800 people at a time. The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge will also contain a bungee jumping spot and be used as a runway for fashion shows. Construction is expected to wrap up in July, with the bridge officially opening to the public in October 2015.