海角视频

Bow Bridge Road

Chelmsford, UK

海角视频 led the design for a landmark new bridge for the Essex city of Chelmsford. The official opening of the striking new Bow Bridge Road in summer 2025 marked a key step in the 拢43.6m regeneration of the Chelmer Waterside area.

Early contractor involvement led to positive outcomes in planning and technical approval, flood solutions, cost management, and carbon reduction through efficient design.

The project employed parametric modelling to refine the design, reducing carbon and cost.

The efficient arch design further enhanced value for money by reducing material quantities in both the superstructure and substructure.

The use of weathering steel for the main span ties in with the approach span screening, nodding to the industrial heritage of the gas works area.

Challenge

海角视频 was engaged in 2021 to lead the design and engineering of the structure. Our team delivered the full bridge design, secured technical approvals, discharged planning conditions and addressed a range of complex challenges involving existing infrastructure, environmental constraints and tight site interfaces.

Our ground engineering team was required to play a key early role in the remediation of the soils for this former gas works site.

We also needed to carry out hydraulic modelling to meet Environment Agency requirements and worked closely across multiple 海角视频 disciplines to deliver , biodiversity-conscious lighting and environmental solutions.

The key challenge was in ensuring the new bridge structure did not defer flood scenarios away from the existing flood plain towards nearby developments. This required careful consideration and modelling to find solutions that allowed water to move through the abutments, without creating accessible areas beneath the bridge that could become a place for littering or other anti-social behaviours.

This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. It鈥檚 more than just a bridge – it鈥檚 a symbol of Chelmsford鈥檚 future.

Edmund Metters, Partner and UK Bridges Lead, 海角视频

Solution

The project incorporates both a road and cyclist/pedestrian bridge over the River Chelmer, promoting active travel and future development in this part of Chelmsford. Spanning 50 metres across the river, the bridge features two elegant bowstring arches made from weathering steel, reflecting the site鈥檚 industrial heritage. It provides a vital new connection between Baddow Road and Wharf Road, supporting both road traffic and active travel, while maintaining river navigation for boats.

GRAHAM (contractor) and 海角视频鈥檚 multidisciplinary team joined forces to deliver the project, showcasing the true power of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI). This collaboration not only de-risked the design and saved the client money but also ensured timely delivery. 海角视频 and GRAHAM worked together to combine buildability and cost, using the latest digital rapid prototyping technology to interrogate the most impactful way to alleviate the flood risk and gain approval from the Environment Agency.

Our multidisciplinary team provided a range of services, including flood modelling and flood risk assessments, a detailed Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) to minimise environmental impacts and manage the protection of biodiversity during construction, and architectural and functional lighting design. Additional ground investigations specified by our ground engineering team enabled significant cost savings through a more informed and efficient design.

The team ethic from 海角视频 has been second to none and the consistency and continuity throughout the project has been first class. The team has always been prepared to go 鈥渁bove and beyond鈥� for example, supporting a seminar with Civil Engineering Students from our local University. Delivery of a first-class service and product to our vision has certainly been the case with this project, and I would not hesitate to recommend the team to others.

Stuart Graham, Economic Development and Implementation 海角视频 Manager, Chelmsford City Council

The bridge features an innovative weathering steel screen that addresses flood risk and prevents the deferment of flood scenarios towards nearby developments while providing a functional and aesthetic appearance.

The project employed parametric modelling to refine the design, reducing both carbon and cost. This approach allowed for iterative testing of various arrangements of the arch and hangers, optimising the design. The steel sections were prefabricated and assembled on site. The individual arches were delivered in parts, assembled, and installed as a single piece. Rigorous value engineering enabled the optimisation of steel usage, maximising carbon savings.

The wider Chelmer Waterside regeneration is designed with sustainability in mind, contributing to Chelmsford’s objective of achieving net-zero carbon emissions in new buildings by 2030. The project prioritises environmental sustainability through land decontamination, the integration of green spaces, and the use of weathering steel to reduce maintenance.

The integral bridge design for the approach span eliminates the need for bearings, and the tied arch bridge reduces abutment and substructure sizes, which is particularly important given the ground conditions in the area. Cement replacement was used to reduce embodied carbon, and the existing Second World War-era Bailey bridge that previously spanned the river was dismantled for potential reuse elsewhere.

Value

Bow Bridge Road stands as a showcase of innovative design, sustainable development, and forward-thinking methodology. This landmark cyclist and road bridge is an emblem of successful urban regeneration that not only promotes active travel but elegantly incorporates flood mitigation solutions with striking visual impact.

Delivered on time and within budget, the project earned outstanding client satisfaction, a testament to its meticulous planning and collaborative execution. Before stage two began, strategic value engineering and timely planning consents helped drastically reduce the number of technical queries. This proactive approach kept costs and changes to a minimum, with all queries addressed jointly by the delivery team to prevent site complications. The efficient arch design further added value by cutting down on materials used in both the superstructure and substructure.

From initial concept to final delivery, 海角视频鈥檚 experts worked seamlessly with GRAHAM in an integrated partnership. Backed by a visionary client and committed stakeholders, the team brought a shared ambition to life鈥攄elivering results that surpassed expectations and set a benchmark for bridge design.

…We were looking for a leading bridge design consultancy with not only a strong track record, but one that understood our vision and would work collaboratively with us to deliver alongside the contractor partner. From the outset of our initial discussions at the expression of interest stage, it was clear that 海角视频 could deliver what we needed. And now that the project is complete, it is clear that we made the right choice.

Stuart Graham, Economic Development and Implementation 海角视频 Manager, Chelmsford City Council