Wilkinson Eyre and Flint & Neill were the design team who
designed the impressive twin bridges for the regeneration of the River Tawe
Marina in Swansea.
As part of the development the south bridge had to enable canal
access through the existing lock gates, which control the water level in one of
the world’s largest tidal ranges. Bennett Associates was brought in to the team
to design the opening section over the existing lock gates.
The south (moving) bridge consists of two swing bridges fabricated
out of mild steel, which rotate on a slew bearing mounted on a fixed
fabrication. Each swing bridge is rotated by a hydraulic ram that extends to
open the bridge.
The bridges consist of steel plated boxed beams mounted on a slew
bearing, which was supported on the existing concrete lock structure.
The west approach is a ramp up to the swing bridge. The east
approach is via the new south fixed bridge. On either side of the approach ramp
are pivoting gates that when open become the parapets and prevent access in to
the lock gate area and when closed prevent access for pedestrians onto the
bridge but opens up access for the lock operators through the parapets. A
‘communication’ pole that has pedestrian lights and an intercom system is
mounted on to the gates.
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