Castleford Bridge
Castleford Bridge, West Yorkshire
We worked closely as engineers with architects McDowell + Benedetti on this dramatic S-shaped bridge across a weir, part of the regeneration of the Yorkshire town, and featured in Channel 4’s Kevin McCloud and the Big Town Plan.
We worked closely to enable the structure to withstand high flood levels while remaining light and elegant. Curved box section beams integrated with benches on the deck give the bridge strength and create the illusion of a particularly slender structure without interrupting its flowing lines. It has four slender spans supported by elegant steel “arm” supports, carefully integrated with the desired profile. The principal beams are placed in alternating asymmetrical positions within the deck structure to help balance the torsional forces generated in the main spans. Shallow cantilevers, tapering towards their tips, support the edges of the deck and produce an edge profile of minimal depth, further accentuating the “delicate” nature of the bridge.
Awards
International Footbridge Award 2011
CABE Public Space Award
RIBA Award
RIBA White Rose Silver Award, Civic Trust Award
Civic Trust Special Award for Partnership, Regeneration & Renewal Grand Prix
ACE Infrastructure Award
ACE Structural Steel Award
Waterways Renaissance Award (USA)
RICS Pro- Yorkshire Community Benefit Award
Client: Wakefield Metropolitan District Council