Newport City footbridge
| Newport City footbridge | |
|---|---|
Newport City footbridge from the east bank
|
|
| Carries | cyclists and pedestrians |
| Crosses | River Usk |
| Locale | Newport |
| Official name | Newport City footbridge |
| Maintained by | Newport City Council |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable-stayed bridge |
| Width | Deck 16 feet (4.9 m) Max. 49 feet (15 m) |
| Clearance below |
13 1⁄2 feet (4.1 m) at high tide |
| History | |
| Opened | 12 September 2006 |
Not to be confused with City Bridge, Newport
Newport City footbridge is a pedestrian/cycle bridge over the River Usk in the city of Newport, South Wales.
The bridge links the east bank of the river in the vicinity of Rodney Parade stadium to University Plaza on the west bank. It was the first major public project in Newport Unlimited's plans to regenerate the city. The bridge 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.
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 4 3⁄4-inch (120 mm) diameter cables that are connected the tips of the masts. The forward mast is 262 feet (80 m) long and the back mast is 226 feet (69 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 13 1⁄2 ft (4.1 m) above water at high tide. The bridge has a clear span of 476 feet (145 m).
The bridge under construction
Usk footbridge opening
Usk footbridge masts
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 bridge foundations are supported by thirty 35 1⁄2 inches (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.
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Wikipedia