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Contemporary Bridges : Structures

Major Bridges + Famous Crossing Projects from around the world

post updated 11 February 2024

Bridge Design

We’ve selected what we feel are the key examples of Bridge Designs. e-architect feature completed bridges, new crossing designs, architectural exhibitions and architecture competitions across the world. The focus is on contemporary bridges.

We have 4 pages of Bridge Design selections.

Contemporary Bridge Designs : A-E (this page)

Bridge Architecture : F-P

Bridge Structures : Q-S

Bridge Designs : T-Z

Contemporary Bridges Design – Latest Proposals

Architecture News – latest additions to this page, arranged chronologically:

Trois-Soeurs Bridge, Québec, Canada
Design: ABCP Architecture

photos Courtesy of the 2017 Wood Design & Building Awards
Chile Building awarded in 2017 Wood Design & Building Awards

Garden Bridge, London, England, UK
Design: Thomas Heatherwick Studio

image from designers
Garden Bridge across the Thames – Jan 2016

Camley Bridges, London, England, UK
Design: Moxon Architects

image from architects
Camley Bridge London – 22 Jan 2016
This structure spans the Regent’s Canal between Camley Street and what will be known as Gasholder Gardens, forming an important connection for pedestrians and cyclists to the west and to Camden.

Three Santiago Calatrava Bridges in China
Design: Santiago Calatrava

image © Santiago Calatrava LLC
New Yangtze River Crossings in China by Santiago Calatrava – 10 Dec 2015
The trio of bridges, called Xihu, Xianbi and Lincong, will facilitate vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians between the two sides and along the banks of the rapidly developing city. The construction of these bridges is central to the development of Huashan’s new urban center.

HafenCity Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge, Hamburg, Germany – 12 Sep 2013
Design: von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp)

image © gmp
The architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) together with Knippers Helbig, Structural Engineers, have won first prize in the limited implementation competition for the new construction of a pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Baakenhafen basin in HafenCity. The jury decided unanimously in favour of the design, which was followed in the ranking by two third places for Ingenhoven Architects, in cooperation with Werner Sobek, and R+ Architects, in cooperation with Dr. Binnewies, Engineering Consultants.

Scale Lane Bridge, Hull, eastern England – 30 Aug 2013
Design: McDowell+Benedetti

photo © Timothy Soar
An innovative swing bridge over the River Hull has opened to the public, offering pedestrians the unique experience of riding on the bridge as it opens and closes to river traffic, believed to be a World’s first. The black steel bridge has a distinctive robust character and curving form, making it a memorable landmark that is unique to Hull and its industrial and maritime heritage.

Castle Green Bridge, Taunton, Somerset, south west England – 30 Jul 2013
Design: Moxon Architects

photo : Simon Kennedy
Moxon Architects have completed Castle Green Bridge, located in the grounds of a scheduled ancient monument, in the market town of Taunton. The Bridge has been shortlisted for a BCIA [British Construction Industry Award] as well as being shortlisted for an RIBA award and was the winner of the ACE [Association of Consulting Engineers] ‘Constructing Excellence Award’.

Mersey Gateway Bridge, River Mersey, England
Design: FCC Construcción

image from FCC
Mersey Gateway Bridge – 21 Jun 2013
FCC, the Spanish infrastructure and environmental services group, has been awarded the contract to design, build, finance, maintain and operate the Mersey Gateway Bridge in Liverpool (UK). Worth approximately 600 million pounds, it is FCC’s largest-ever contract in the UK.

Vidin-Calafat Bridge, border of Bulgaria & Romania
FCC inaugurates Danube Bridge 2 linking Bulgaria and Romania

photo from FCC
Vidin-Calafat Bridge – 17 Jun 2013
This bridge took six years to build and connects Vidin (Bulgaria) and Calafat (Romania). It represents an investment of 275 million euro – partially funded by the European Union. FCC, the global infrastructure company, has opened to traffic the Vidin-Calafat bridge, linking Bulgaria and Romania that reflects notable progress in connecting the two countries.

Hassan II Bridge, Rabat, Morocco
Design: Marc Mimran Architecture

photo : Cemal Emden
Bridge in Rabat – 1 May 2013
Linking Rabat and Salé to form an urban hub, the Hassan II Bridge and its associated access works relieve both cities’ historic sites and populations of atmospheric and sound pollution.

Oberhausen Bridge Sculpture, Ruhr, north west Germany
Design: Schlaich Bergermann and Partner

photo : Roman Mensing
Oberhausen Bridge – 2 Apr 2013
The 406 m long pedestrian bridge across the Rhine-Herne canal is part of the project EMSCHERKUNST 2010. Artist Tobias Rehberger envisioned a colourful ribbon wrapped in a wild, swinging spiral connecting two parks. Initial tests on the technical feasibility soon showed that the spiral, which was supposed to appear as light and vibrant as possible, could not act as support structure for the bridge.

Infinity Loop Bridge – Zhuhai Shizimen Bridge Competition, southern China
10 Design + Buro Happold

picture from architects
Zhuhai Shizimen Bridge – 22 May 2012
10 DESIGN and Buro Happold have won the international design competition for the key signature gateway bridge for the new Shizimen Business District in Zhuhai, China. The feature bridge is the gateway entry to south China’s new planned commercial hub and also marks the connection of the Shizimen Canal to the Pearl River Delta.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridges in Reykjavik, Iceland
Teiknistofan Tröð

image from architects
Reykjavik Bridge Design – 16 May 2012
1st prize in an open two stage competition.
The bridges are designed in the shape of a triangular pyramid. The deck is held up with steel wires that connect to the top of the pyramid.
A pathway lies between the two bridges and along the coastline with rest stops and information stands along the way.

The Jubilee Bridge, Chelesea / Battersea, London, UK
One-world design

image from architects
The Jubilee Bridge London – 8 Feb 2012
A new connection between Chelsea Harbour and Battersea would be beneficial to the communities, transport links and businesses on both sides of the river. One-world design and Expedition Engineering have progressed designs for the new bridge.

Contemporary Bridges Designs – Recent Structures

Woven Bridge, Copenhagen, Denmark
MLRP Architects

photograph : Jens Lindhe
Woven Bridge – 28 Mar 2012
Architects MLRP has completed a new foot bridge in Copenhagen Central Park. The Woven Bridge is a modern interpretation of a classical steel park bridge. With the new Woven Bridge, crossing the lake in Copenhagen Central Park and getting close to the water finally becomes possible. It allows for viewing the park and lake from new perspectives.

Lower Hatea River Crossing, New Zealand
Knight Architects

image from architects
Lower Hatea Bridge – 6 Dec 2011
The bridge comprises a 265 metre long viaduct with a 25m opening section and more than 1.5km of approach roads over geotechnically challenging ground. Initial earth works will begin to pre-load the site of the bridge on both sides of the harbour and construction will continue through to mid 2013.

The Helix Bridge, Singapore
Cox Rayner Architects

photograph : Christopher Frederick Jones
Helix Bridge : World’s Best Transport Building at World Architecture Festival Awards 2010.
The Helix Bridge is one of the few, if any, bridges in the world to be named after its structure. In addition to its uniqueness of structure and form, it was designed to respond to its particular setting at the opening of the Singapore River to Marina Bay.

Major Bridge Architecture

Castleford Bridge, England
McDowell+Bendetti

picture : Tim Soar

Copenhagen Bridge Contest, Denmark
Studio Bednarski and Flint & Neill

image from Studio Bednarski

Copenhagen Gateway, Denmark
Design: Steven Holl Architects

picture : Courtesy of Steven Holl Architects

CPH Arch, Denmark
3XN

image from architect

Erasmus Bridge Rotterdam, Netherlands
UN Studio Architects

image : UNStudio

More new designs for the Contemporary Bridges page online soon

Calgary Bridge Design Contest

image from architect
Calgary Bridge Design Competition

San Diego Coronado Bridge, California, USA – Lighting Contest Winners

image from Peter Fink

Forth Road Bridge

Øresund Link Bridge

Comments / photos for the Contemporary Bridge Architecture page welcome