The $4.7m Magnetic Island Walkway – officially titled Gabul Way – was publically opened with hundreds of people attending the formal opening in March.
As lead consultant, Arup designed the elevated walkway structures, viewing platforms and on-grade footpaths between Nelly Bay and Arcadia for the 800 metre-long scenic walkway.
Working with Townsville City Council, Tippett Schrock Architects and Thinc Projects, we developed a unique solution which cantilevers prefabricated walkway decks from micropiled foundations to float out above the adjacent cliffs and ocean.
“Gabul Way was always going to be a very challenging project due to its location. The walkway runs alongside the only road connecting both ends of the island, sits on an unstable cliff face in a marine environment, resulting in significant access, constructability, safety and design issues. Arup’s innovative solution of micropiling and using precast concrete units made off site managed to reduce most of these risks while meeting Council’s brief for durability, safety and budget.
- Claudia Brassard, Townsville City Council Project Manager
Alistair Hall, Arup senior engineer and project director for the walkway, said the walkway’s unique and challenging location required a bold and clever design with safety a high priority.
“Overcoming the technical challenges posed by the project’s location required us to develop an innovative structural engineering design to ultimately improve the safety for all road users by taking pedestrians and cyclists off the road. We also worked closely with the builder to develop and refine the design for construction; this included the extensive use of precast concrete which minimised dangerous on site activities along the cliff edge.
Overcoming the technical challenges posed by the project’s location required us to develop an innovative structural engineering design to ultimately improve the safety for all road users by taking pedestrians and cyclists off the road. We also worked closely with the builder to develop and refine the design for construction; this included the extensive use of precast concrete which minimised dangerous on site activities along the cliff edge.
- Alistair Hall, Arup senior engineer
Arup provided structural and civil engineering services lead by the firm’s Townsville office to deliver this project.