Kingsham Footbridge

Kingsham Footbridge near Chichester, UK is a unique and innovative bridge form, designed in close collaboration between Mott MacDonald and Wilkinson Eyre Architects. The cycle/pedestrian bridge over the A27 will be built in late 2014, providing a much needed link between the city and the surrounding rural communities.

Difficult to categorize due to its unusual nature, the structure is best described as a steel hybrid box girder/half thru-trough. The cross section tapers over the length of the span, which together with faceted soffit and side plates creates a gently curved, sculpted exterior form. In contrast, the dynamic interior features a series of gradually morphing skeletal ribs. The varying cross section, deepest at mid-span for structural reasons, affords the user a sense of enclosure and security over the carriageway. Towards the end of the span where the bridge is less enclosed, views open up to reveal the low lying coastal landscape celebrated by English romantic artist, J Turner.

It is believed that the design of Kingsham Footbridge resonates well with the theme of the ‘Footbridge 2014’ conference. The intention is to demonstrate that good design, which results in an appropriate footbridge solution, is not always spectacular or flamboyant, but can equally be elegant and modest.