Checkered flag innovation

When Formula 1 announced its return to Las Vegas, the expectations were sky-high.

Picture 1 – Staging of bridges. (Photo: Crimson Engineering Associates)

Hosting a race on the iconic Las Vegas Strip introduced immense logistical hurdles – not the least of which involved providing safe, efficient pedestrian access across the race track.

Enter Crimson Engineering Associates (CEA), hired by Leading Edge Scaffold, to deliver an ambitious solution: six temporary pedestrian bridges, plus event tents and viewing stands, that would transform how fans experienced the race without interfering with the event’s tight infrastructure.

Project plans and execution

Picture 2 – Setting bridges on substructure. (Photo: Crimson Engineering Associates)

The scope of the project was complex. The challenge wasn’t just building the structures – it was doing so within the tight urban fabric of the Las Vegas Strip.

With every square foot of real estate already claimed by historical landmarks, pedestrian walkways, kitchen tents, vendor setups, viewing platforms and other race infrastructure, coordination was critical.

From the outset, CEA took a proactive approach. Beginning in March 2023, the team surveyed and photographed every bridge location in meticulous detail. This planning ensured that each preassembled bridge, its abutments and its associated access structures would fit without field conflicts. The foresight proved vital: there would be no room for improvisation once the structures were ready to be installed in one of the busiest entertainment districts in the world.

Picture 3 – Setting bridges on substructure. (Photo: Crimson Engineering Associates)

All final design packages were delivered by November 2023, just ahead of the race.

Systems in place

Initially, the team considered fabricating castellated beams for the bridge spans – an option often used in construction for its ability to span long distances while minimizing material use. But the added time for fabrication, combined with strict clearance requirements, made this option less feasible.

Instead, the team pivoted to a more agile and efficient strategy: repurpose newly available modular components.

Specifically, they chose Altrad’s R800 girder system, which had only recently entered the scaffolding market in 2022. At the time, this equipment was largely untested in public infrastructure applications.

Picture 4 – Bridge substructure. (Photo: Crimson Engineering Associates)

The decision to use the R800 system – augmented with Altrad’s Megashor and Superslim towers – proved to be both innovative and practical. Each of the six bridges ranged from a 94-foot single-span configuration to a sprawling 180-foot, two-span design.

Spanning locations across Rochelle Avenue, Flamingo Road and the MSG Sphere vicinity, the bridges had to accommodate thousands of pedestrians while meeting strict wind, seismic and temperature loading standards.

Safety was paramount

As one might expect in such a high-visibility project, safety was non-negotiable. Any bolt that could potentially loosen or vibrate free had to be welded in place – there could be no risk of debris falling onto the track below. CEA engineered every component with this in mind. All bridge elements were pre-built off-site, with structural connections welded in controlled environments to reduce risk and speed up the installation process.

Picture 5 – Final bridges across MSG. (Photo: Crimson Engineering Associates)

One significant challenge arose with the R800 system itself. While its structural performance was sufficient for the intended spans, its horizontal components did not provide enough vertical clearance for pedestrian walkways.

To overcome this, Crimson Engineering designed and fabricated custom lateral elements to meet pedestrian safety codes for walkway height and width. These adaptations required rigorous 3D structural modeling and manual calculations to verify their stability and safety.

Beyond the spans themselves, CEA had to design and integrate ramps, stair towers, and hoists to provide ADA-compliant access and maintain crowd flow. Each of these auxiliary structures had to fit into already congested real estate without compromising safety or aesthetics.

Picture 6 – Final bridges across MSG. (Photo: Crimson Engineering Associates)

This feat of spatial coordination and creative engineering helped set the project apart in the eyes of industry peers.

The bridges were installed onto abutments made of precast concrete pads and Megashor/Superslim towers. Once fully assembled, they were craned into position over Las Vegas Boulevard in precision-timed nighttime operations – minimizing disruption to ongoing event setup and pedestrian traffic.

Picture 7 – Final bridges across Flamingo. (Photo: Crimson Engineering Associates)

Winning solutions

But this wasn’t a one-and-done solution. The bridges and associated structures are designed for reuse. With Formula 1 returning to Las Vegas annually, CEA’s work stands as a template for future iterations. By solving not just for today’s needs but anticipating tomorrow’s demands, Crimson Engineering has helped set a new standard in event infrastructure.

As cities continue to host increasingly ambitious events in dense urban environments, the success of the F1 Las Vegas Pedestrian Bridges provides a model for how engineering can rise to meet the challenge – with creativity, precision, and innovation leading the way.

Picture 8 – Final bridges along Rochelle. (Photo: Crimson Engineering Associates)

The level of complexity, innovation and coordination Crimson Engineering Associates utilized saw the company snag a 2024 Scaffold & Access Industry Association Innovation Award. The award recognizes not only the creative use of equipment, but also the seamless execution of a project that had no margin for error.

Picture 9 – Stair and hoist access to MSG bridges. (Photo: Crimson Engineering Associates)

Innovation for the win

Crimson Engineering Associates (CEA) was awarded the Scaffold and Access Industry Association’s Innovation Project of the Year Award for its work on building pedestrian bridges in Las Vegas for the Formula 1 race last year.

The Scaffold & Access Industry Association’s Innovation Project of the Year is awarded to a member company that:

• demonstrated a new or innovative way to utilize an existing product on a project, or
• delivered a new product to the field.

Submissions should detail why the product is considered innovative and what improvements it offers over previous models.

To learn more about the SAIA Project of the Year Awards, and to enter for 2025’s honors, visit www.saiaonline.org/awards.