Tim-lapse video shows Chichester A27 bridge installation

The bridge, labelled a ‘cinematic experience’ by Highways England, was officially opened by The Mayor of Chichester and schoolchildren last Friday (November 6).

Highways England says the footbridge provides a safe crossing point over the A27 for walkers cyclists and residents, linking Chichester with communities, leisure facilities and walking routes south of the A27.

Highways England asset manager for West Sussex, Peter Phillips said: “The new footbridge is providing pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians with a safe crossing over the A27.

“We are delighted that the local community have shown so much support for the project and would like to thank them for their suggestions for the bridge’s name.”

Highways England said the bridge design was ‘deliberately understated’.

Speaking about the design, a spokesman said: “At the outset of design, rather than create an attention seeking landmark, design effort was placed on a more measured, respectful response to the context and design brief.

“The result is a subtle, low level structure, which together with earthwork ramps either side, helps the bridge to blend with the surrounding coastal landscape.

“The exterior of the bridge is deliberately understated, with a subtle fluid form of curved, faceted surfaces providing a simple and elegant response to its context.

“To contrast this, the interior is intended to be fun and playful.

“Regularly spaced transverse ribs, required to stiffen the thru-trough, constantly change in profile across the span.

“This creates a cinematic experience as users walk or cycle across the bridge.

“Painting the interior an unexpectedly bright colour adds to this effect.

“Through detailing and material selection, the sculpturally cloaked exterior gives way to a human scaled skeletal interior, providing a sense of discovery and delight.

“Structurally, the 36 metre main span consists of an unusual steel hybrid box girder and half thru-trough.

“This varying cross section evolved in response to both engineering and architectural objectives.

“The gradually changing structural depth is an expression of honesty and efficiency, providing greatest depth at midspan where it is needed for bending in the simply supported span.

“This characteristic also provides a sense of enclosure to bridge users as they pass over the busy highway before opening up to the desired views at the ends.”

The bridge was brought to site from Port Talbot, Wales in one 41m long piece and the main contractor was Interserve Civils, with steel fabrication by Mabey Bridge and Afon Engineering.

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