Bridge creator is now a native Tekla Structures plug-in. All configuration data and geometric parameters are saved directly within the component objects inside the Tekla Structures model, rather than in external files. This eliminates the risk of losing design data due to deleted or misplaced external files. To modify any part of the bridge, double-click the object, and the Bridge creator plug-in automatically retrieves the specific object properties and logic from within the model.

Bridge creator now automatically assigns standardized names to geometry shapes during creation. This means that you do not need to manually name every shape, and also ensures consistent naming conventions across the entire project and decreases modeling time.

If Bridge creator is forced to close by an external plug-in or process, a dialog now appears allowing you to save your changes.

Bridge creator has a new icon on the ribbon and in the Applications & components catalog:

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In the Bridge creator dialog, click the Read alignment button to open the Read alignment dialog.

• You can now use an existing reference model inserted in the Tekla Structures model as an alignment. You can select the reference model, such as a LandXML file, from the Reference models list. You no longer need to browse for the file again.

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In the Bridge creator dialog, click the More button to open the Manage alignments dialog. The Manage tab contains the following new settings and features:

• Next to the Get data from chainage button and the Chainage input box, there is now the Interval box which you can use for inserting multiple layout points at a time.

  The default value for Interval is zero. If you only enter a value for Chainage input and keep the interval at zero, only one point is created. If you keep the chainage input at zero and enter a value for the interval, layout points are added across the entire alignment. If you enter values for the Start and End of the area of interest along with an interval value, points are created at that specified interval throughout the selected area.

  The Area of interest boxes have the start and end values of the loaded main road line.

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• You can now select any point in the model and automatically retrieve its reference station from the selected alignment. To do this, use the Project point on alignment button.

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• Select the Create construction points checkbox if you want to create points in the model when displaying chainage along an alignment. When the checkbox is not selected, physical points are not created, and the model remains clean and lightweight without redundant overlapping points.

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• Select the Create construction line checkbox if you want to create construction lines perpendicular to the alignment between specific stations at certain intervals.

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In the Bridge creator dialog, click the Stations button to open the Manage station library dialog.

• New centralized libraries and rule-based logic handle station creation and definition with less effort. The new station library allows you to store and manage predefined key station values. You can manually enter station values or import them using a .cvs file.

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• Now you can also define start and end stations using either the Start and End values or the Start and Length values.

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In the Bridge creator dialog, click the + button next to the Key sections table to open the Manage cross section library dialog.

• Cross section names can now be modified directly in the Section library list. You no longer need to open the Edit cross section dialog for each cross section individually.

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In the Bridge creator or Manage cross section library dialog, select a cross section and click the  Edit button to open the Edit cross section dialog.

• The point type diagrams that open when you click the Display point diagram button have been updated to more accurately reflect how different point types function and interact.

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• Some texts in the Point type area have been updated to match the texts shown in the point type diagrams.

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Tekla Structures 2026 introduces many new settings that are available in the Bridge creator dialog:

• You can define the cast unit type for extrusions and beams. To do this, go to the General or Components tab, and in the Cast unit list, select either Cast in place or Precast.

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• You can define a class for alignments and cross sections. This can be done during the creation of extrusions and the conversion of road lines. Class information can then be used in filtering, for example.

  For alignments, click the More button on the General tab, and then go to the Import tab in the Manage alignments dialog.

  For cross sections, go to the Cross section creation area on the General tab.

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• When you are placing beams or components, you can specify whether chainage intervals are measured along the arc or along the chord. Select an option from the new Interval option list on the Components tab. With the Along the chord option you can prevent straight components from clashing with each other when they are placed along a curved alignment (for example, straight pedestrian parapets placed on a curved bridge).

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• You can update or swap components in the model without needing to delete or recreate them. You can change a selected component after creation by either reloading a new component or updating the text in the Name box on the Components tab. All other settings and properties stay the same.

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• The default values of the following beam component properties have been updated on the Components tab: Phase = 1, Class = 1, Part numbering start number = 1, and Assembly numbering prefix = A.

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• You can use the new Phase box on the Tension cables tab to define a phase for tension cables. This ensures that the tension cables are added to the correct phase immediately upon creation.

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• Previously, when you clicked the Delete button in the Edit cross section dialog without selecting any points, Bridge creator stopped working. This issue has now been fixed.

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• Previously, when you copied a beam component on the Components tab in the Bridge creator dialog, the phase information was missing from the copy. This issue has now been fixed.

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