COWI (previously Flint & Neill) and Knight Architects won the competitive bid to design the replacement for the 1870 “Destructor Bridge” in Autumn 2012. The new 45m span will carry pedestrians, cyclists and highway traffic across the River Avon and will connect the Bath Western Riverside development with the existing city.

The design is a structurally efficient steel arch form, asymmetric in cross section, which addresses multiple site constraints including a very shallow construction depth. It also provides the development with a modest riverside landmark and is conceived as a destination for pedestrians as well as a cross river connection. Working with the masterplan design guidelines, the design places highway protection to the edges of the carriageway, ensuring the outer parapets are lightweight and transparent to maximise visual connectivity with the river. Architectural features include built-in benches and a lighting design which provides a safe nighttime environment.

The structure is designed to be pre-assembled and launched into position, minimising possession time in the river and reducing cost and environmental

risks.