Newport City footbridge

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Newport City footbridge
Newport City footbridge
Newport City footbridge from the east bank
Official name Newport City footbridge
Carries cyclists and pedestrians
Crosses River Usk
Locale Newport
Maintained by Newport City Council
Design Cable-stayed bridge
Width Deck 16 feet (5 metres)
Max. 49 feet (15 metres)
Clearance below 13½ feet (4.1 metres)
at high tide
Opening date 12 September 2006

The Newport City footbridge [1] 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. [2]

Contents

[edit] 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 (120mm) diameter cables that are connected the tips of the masts. The forward mast is 262 feet long (80 metres) and the back mast is 226 feet long (69 metres). Because of the angle at which the masts are positioned, the bridge stands at 229ft (70m) above ground. The deck is 16 ft wide (5 metres) and 13½ft (4.1 metres) above water at high tide. The bridge has a clear span of 476 ft (145m).


The bridge under construction

Usk footbridge opening

Usk footbridge masts

[edit] 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.

[edit] The foundations

The bridge foundations are supported by 30, 35½ inch (900mm) diameter CFA (continuous flight auger) piles varying in length. The bridge structure is suspended on five ground anchors which are drilled 98ft (30m) into the ground.

Approximately 20,000 cubic ft (600 cubic m) of concrete were used in the bridge foundations.

[edit] 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 2.5m (8.2ft) in diameter and was delivered to site in nine sections. It weighs approximately 275 tons.

The back mast is 1.75m (5.7ft) diameter and was delivered to site in seven sections. It weighs approximately 177 tons.

[edit] 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
    • 79ft (24m) long
    • 16ft (5m) wide
    • weight 19t
  • Deck two and four
    • 85ft (26m) long
    • 31.2ft (9.5m) wide (at the outriggers)
    • weight 25t
  • Deck three
    • 118ft (36m) long
    • 49ft (15m) wide (at the outriggers)
    • weight 55t

[edit] The cables

A ½mile (800m) of cable is used to support the bridge, varying in diameter from 2in (50mm) to 4¾in (120mm).

[edit] Erection

The main masts for the bridge were erected in the week commencing May 1, 2006 using the largest crane in the UK. [3] 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.

[edit] Facts

  • Maximum mast height: 229ft (70m).
  • Mast weight: 836 tons.
  • 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.

[edit] External links


Crossings of the River Usk, Newport, UK, north to south
Caerleon Bridge | St. Julian's railway bridge | M4 motorway Usk bridge | Great Western Railway Usk bridge | Newport Bridge | Newport City footbridge | George Street Bridge | City Bridge | Newport Transporter Bridge