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The ‘world’s first’ 3D printed cycle bridge has opened to riders in the Netherlands.
The 26-foot bridge, which was constructed from over 800 layers of concrete, is capable of enduring the weight of 40 trucks, but will be used primarily by cyclists in the southeastern town of Gemert.
The significance in the project lies in its unique construction. Each reinforced and pre-stressed concrete block was specifically custom designed and printed layer-by-layer for the purpose of constructing the bridge.
The creators of the project claim that this is not only the quickest and strongest way to create infrastructure such as bridges and roads, it also utilises only the exact amount of materials needed, meaning less construction debris and wasted resources.
