A40 Footbridge Featured in Architects Journal

Opened in December, bridge is already attracting attention

The new 32m bridge over the A40, which was opened officially last month by Councillors and TfL representatives, is featured in the Architects Journal this week.

The bridge was designed by Grimshaw (the prestigious architects firm responsible for high-profile projects like the Eden Project, the international terminal at Waterloo Station and countless other project worldwide) with Hyder Consulting.

The bright-yellow link replaced an ageing, damaged structure and runs diagonally over the busy dual carriageway.

The new bridge, which forms part of a larger redevelopment project that has also seen the overhaul of two major road bridges, is served by both ramps and stairs and provides improved access for pushchairs, cyclists and wheelchairs.

According to the practice, ‘the key design challenge’ was to build the bridge foundations on limited land next to the carriageway, a task made harder ‘by the quantity of utility services buried under the pavements’.

A spokesman said: ‘The new footbridge was designed so that the old one could remain in place until the new span was completed. This was installed in a single lift in one overnight closure of the road – the first ever planned complete closure of the A40. Once in place, this span and its new stairs were opened for public use, while the old footbridge was demolished to make room for the new ramps.’

The bridge has already attracted attention since one mugger appears to have used it to escape with his bike after a recent robbery in Perryn Road.

January 19, 2010