Newport City footbridge
Encyclopedia
The Newport City footbridge http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/546247 is a pedestrian/cycle bridge over the River Usk
in the city of Newport
, United Kingdom
.
The bridge links the east bank of the river in the vicinity of Colne Street in Maindee
to a new public space called Usk Place/University Plaza on the west bank. It is the first major public project in Newport Unlimited
's plans to regenerate the city. The bridge has won a design award from the British Construction and Steelworkers Association; the George Gibby Award 2007 by the Institution of Civil Engineers
in Wales; the regeneration award by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
in Wales as well as a highly commended by Wales Business Insider for the best regeneration project of 2007. http://www.newportunlimited.co.uk/newsandevents/index.html?newsId=10689
Approximately 600 m³ (784.8 cu yd) of concrete were used in the bridge foundations.
The front mast is 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in diameter and was delivered to site in nine sections. It weighs approximately 275 long tons (279.4 t).
The back mast is 1.75 m (5.7 ft) diameter and was delivered to site in seven sections. It weighs approximately 177 long tons (179.8 t).
The deck units were installed in sequence and then welded together. Details of the deck units are shown below:
It was officially opened on 12 September 2006 (also the centenary of Newport Transporter Bridge
) and is the ninth crossing of the Usk in the city.
, performed the highest ever wirewalk in Europe, along the top cable of the Newport City Footbridge.
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
in the city of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The bridge links the east bank of the river in the vicinity of Colne Street in Maindee
Maindee
Maindee is a large inner-city area in the city of Newport, South Wales.It lies mostly within the electoral district and community of Victoria, although some areas traditionally associated with Maindee are in the Beechwood ward....
to a new public space called Usk Place/University Plaza on the west bank. It is the first major public project in Newport Unlimited
Newport Unlimited
Newport Unlimited is an Urban Regeneration Company created in 2003 to help counter the impacts of the continued decline in heavy industry and manufacturing in Newport: e.g...
's plans to regenerate the city. The bridge has won a design award from the British Construction and Steelworkers Association; the George Gibby Award 2007 by the Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
in Wales; the regeneration award by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is an independent, representative professional body which regulates property professionals and surveyors in the United Kingdom and other sovereign nations....
in Wales as well as a highly commended by Wales Business Insider for the best regeneration project of 2007. http://www.newportunlimited.co.uk/newsandevents/index.html?newsId=10689
Overview
The bridge features two A-Frame masts, which support the bridge from the west bank. The masts are positioned on a shared foundation and anchored at ground level by two 4¾-inch (120 mm) diameter cables that are connected the tips of the masts. The forward mast is 262 feet (79.9 m) long and the back mast is 226 feet (68.9 m) long. Because of the angle at which the masts are positioned, the bridge stands at 229 ft (70 m) above ground. The deck is 16 ft (4.9 m) wide and 13½ ft (4.1 m) above water at high tide. The bridge has a clear span of 476 feet (145 m).Design concept
The dramatic crane structures were designed as a deliberate and symbolic link to the site's earlier use as trading wharves—but with a modern twist. The deliberate location of the main structures on the west bank means that the vast majority of the construction work was kept away from the houses on the east bank, while avoiding impact on the local river ecology.The foundations
The bridge foundations are supported by thirty 35½ inch (900 mm) diameter CFA (continuous flight auger) piles varying in length. The bridge structure is suspended on five ground anchors which are drilled 98 ft (30 m) into the ground.Approximately 600 m³ (784.8 cu yd) of concrete were used in the bridge foundations.
The masts
The masts are made from sheet steel which was rolled into 'cans'. These were then welded together to produce the tubes for the masts.The front mast is 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in diameter and was delivered to site in nine sections. It weighs approximately 275 long tons (279.4 t).
The back mast is 1.75 m (5.7 ft) diameter and was delivered to site in seven sections. It weighs approximately 177 long tons (179.8 t).
The deck
The bridge deck is made up of five sections.The deck units were installed in sequence and then welded together. Details of the deck units are shown below:
- Deck one and five
- 79 ft (24 m) long
- 16 ft (5 m) wide
- weight 19 long tons (19.3 t)
- Deck two and four
- 85 ft (26 m) long
- 31.2 ft (9.5 m) wide (at the outriggers)
- weight 25 long tons (25.4 t)
- Deck three
- 118 ft (36 m) long
- 49 ft (15 m) wide (at the outriggers)
- weight 55 long tons (55.9 t)
The cables
A half mile (800 m) of cable is used to support the bridge, varying in diameter from 2 in to 4¾ in (to 50 to 120 mm).Erection
The main masts for the bridge were erected in the week commencing May 1, 2006 using the largest crane in the UK. http://www.newport.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/press_release/cont060008.pdfIt was officially opened on 12 September 2006 (also the centenary of Newport Transporter Bridge
Newport Transporter Bridge
The Newport Transporter Bridge is a transporter bridge that crosses the River Usk in Newport, South Wales. It is a Grade I listed structure. Designed by French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin, it was built in 1906 and opened by Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar on 12 September 1906...
) and is the ninth crossing of the Usk in the city.
Facts
- Maximum mast height: 229 ft (70 m).
- Mast weight: 836 long tons (849.4 t).
- The balustrades are formed from nearly two miles (three kilometres) of stainless steel wire.
- The bridge deck is fitted with 178 lights.
- The mast bases, back anchor and masts are illuminated by 36 floodlights and uplighters.
World record highwire walk
As part of the city's "Big Splash" festival, on 30 August 2010, 45 year-old French circus star Olivier Roustan from ToulouseToulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, performed the highest ever wirewalk in Europe, along the top cable of the Newport City Footbridge.
External links
- Time-lapse construction photography
- Client: Newport Unlimited
- Contractors: Alfred McAlpine
- Architect: Grimshaw
- Structural Engineer: Atkins
- Steel Fabricators: Rowecord