About this poll

The Mayor has already given approval for a bridge at this location and the process is well underway. TfL is now considering design options.  They appear to have rejected all types of Bascule bridge including the type which 93% of respondents said should be immediately implemented without seeking other designs in our previous poll:

https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/projects/contracts/tfl-in-conflict-of-interest-row-over-new-thames-bridge/10028020.article

We consider this is unjustified and premature.  It seems to us that to eliminate a major and very popular bridge type even before competing solutions have been designed and costed is utterly absurd

We will be meeting TfL shortly and would like to know your design preference so we can properly represent your interests

Location/Alignment

The location between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf in the general vicinity of the existing ferry is well understood.  The precise location and alignment are yet to be decided

• Any of the bridge types described here could go at any of the locations
• We will launch another poll shortly  so you can have your say on the location

Option 1:  Bascule Bridge

Technically this is a bridge which pivots out of the way, balanced by a counterweight. The counterweight may be hidden (eg Tower Bridge) or be visible (the opposite “wing” of the boomerang) in this example:

ReForm/Elliott Wood design – closed	ReForm/Elliott Wood design – open

Option 1a:  The design shown, which is currently the only design to have been made public. http://www.rotherhithebridge.london

Vote option 1b if you would prefer a different (yet to be designed) bascule bridge

Pros

• Elegant, iconic and functional design
• Navigation safety is enhanced by having only two piers in the river and by the bridge lifting up and away from river traffic

Cons

• As a high structure, wind load must be allowed for within the engineering parameters of the design

Option 2: Vertical lift

The central span of the bridge rises vertically. This usually requires towers containing counterweights at each end of the span.

Pont Gustave Flaubert Bridge	Jacques Chaban-Delmas Bridge, Bordeaux

In the absence of a design proposal for this bridge type we are showing two existing bridges of this type

Pros

• Navigation safety is enhanced by having only two piers in the river and by the bridge lifting up and away from river traffic

Cons

• Bulky towers needed to support the span at height – poor visual impact
• Fixed maximum navigation height

Option 3 – Double Swing Bridge

The movable span rotates about a central point. In order to provide a safe width the Rotherhithe Bridge would have to be constructed as two swing bridges. Note the use of concrete bollards in the river to provide collision protection,  which would be a requirement for the Rotherhithe bridge

The Varvarivskyi BridgeSingle swing bridge	George P. Coleman Memorial BridgeDouble swing bridge

In the absence of a design proposal for this bridge type we are showing two examples.  We understand the Rotherhithe bridge will need a double swing bridge to privide a sufficient span

Pros

• Capable of elegant and functional design (relative to a lift bridge)

Cons

• greater length of navigation hazard because vessels have to navigate a corridor between the opened arms rather than a simple bridge aperture
• Visual impact – in front of waterfront properties when open
• Extensive collision protection will be required – visual impact and navigation hazard whether open or closed

 

Have your say!

Please contact us if you have further comments