Bridge provides new link to the Olympic Park
A new 10.6 tonne bridge was craned into place today to reconnect the River Lee Navigation towpath enabling over 28-miles of uninterrupted travel for walkers and cyclists from the River Thames to the Olympic Park.
The £2.4million scheme in partnership with British Waterways and the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation is a major boost for reviving east London’s waterways.
The Olympic Park, and the major residential developments at Sugar House Lane, Bromley-by- Bow North and South, has prompted the need for the improved crossing as well as driving a renaissance in waterside development.
The investment, to create a safe route under the A11/12 crossing, will spur increased use of the towpath, and provide a traffic-free route linking this area with the rest of the capital’s popular towpath routes used by hundreds of thousands of cyclists and walkers each year, as well as providing a traffic-free connection to the Olympic Park.
Due to the restricted nature of the site, a floating 50 tonne crane was used to lift the 16.25m long x 3.0m wide bridge into place. The bridge, along with sections of ramp, have all been pre-fabricated in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, by CTS Bridges.
Sally Preston, CTS Bridges, said: “It’s great to know that our work will help make the walking and cycling routes to the Olympic Park a safer and more pleasant way for people to travel in the area. It’s easy to think that the Games are just a London-centric event, but businesses from across the UK are involved in helping to make it all happen.
“We’re very pleased to see that the quality of design & fabrication in this structure from the CTS team in Yorkshire will be on show to the thousands of people who will be using the new bridge and fly-under before, during and after the Games.”
British Waterways’ principal project manager, Mark Blackwell said: “It’s great to see the bridge lifted into place today. It’s a key piece of the scheme that’s being developed in the unusual confines of the rivers and roads in this neighbourhood.
“The bridge will connect to a suspended pathway, essentially creating a ‘fly-under’ the busy road junction. The new scheme means that pedestrians and cyclists no longer need to leave the towpath and will be able to enjoy an uninterrupted journey.”
Julia Brion, senior project manager, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, said:
“Getting the towpaths in active and popular use will encourage more people to take a second look at east London. Crucially our investment will stimulate additional development activity driving and sustaining a renaissance of waterside regeneration. Improved access and linkages both through and to the river allied to the huge development potential in the area could see a future of restaurants, shops, cafes and other amenities in a new Camden of the east.”
ODA, Director of Transport, Hugh Sumner said:
“This bridge is a another link in the 80km network of improved cycling and walking routes connecting the Olympic Park and other 2012 venues as well as supporting the long term regeneration of east London.”
The scheme is expected to be completed by the end of July 2011.
