Bespoke Bridge For Finzels
Reach, Bristol
91m (5 span) x 4m wide bespoke footbridge curved in plan and
elevation, Finzels Reach, Bristol
F
inzels Reach is the location for a
stunning new footbridge installed
by CTS Bridges across Bristol’s
floating harbour.
The new bridge provides access for
pedestrians and cyclists to the new
development in Bristol. The 91m bridge
twists its way gracefully across the Avon
waterway linking the Finzels Reach
development with Castle Park.
They partnered with vibration specialists
Full Scale Dynamics to design,
manufacture, install and commission a
bespoke tuned mass damper to position
the longest most eccentric span to ensure
comfort performance parameters were
met for walkers, joggers and crowds alike
The client approached CTS Bridges Ltd
directly to create a structural solution
from their architectural aspirations, which
gave earlier budget confidence and
identified critical structural constraints at
the outset. The complex geometry posed challenges
for design with regards to both analysis
and concept. The plan curvature
generated a low frequency structure
easily excited and onerous access
constraints during road delivery to site
and pontoon delivery down the river
under historic arch bridges required the
bridge to be assembled in progressive
stages.
CTS undertook all structural design
of the scheme, its value engineering,
manufacture and installation. The structure required a design that
could be assembled from a kit of parts to
create a weaving stiff torsion box spine
16 Landscape & Urban Design