Crossing will provide quieter route for cyclists and pedestrians
Knight Architects has won planning for a timber-clad pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Usk in South Wales.
The 61m glulam structure will connect the town of Abergavenny and the village of Llanfoist. They are currently served by a narrow grade II*-listed highway bridge of medieval origins.
Knight Architects and WSP were commissioned by Monmouthshire council to design a quieter and safer route away from the highway which allows pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the green areas on both banks.
The route crosses the river 100m downstream of the existing bridge.
The structure comprises a two-span through beam (25m + 36m) with a timber and stainless steel deck that has a 3m-wide U-shaped cross section. These side beams also act as parapets and are protected with a geometric timber protective cladding.
A hydrodynamic concrete support pier with four stainless steel arms is intended to act as a cutwater to the significant flood waters which can be experienced along the Usk Valley.
The approach ramps are designed as smooth green embankments that appear as a natural alteration of the existing topography, raising the bridge structure above the flood water levels, said Héctor Beade-Pereda, an associate at Knight Architects.
He hoped the bridge would offer a “harmonious addition to the sensitive setting, as well as being a functional structure which addresses the tricky site conditions and provides a more appropriate amenity for users”.
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