- C & C shares its insight into how steel fabrication supports local and national steel structures as part of our new series: Steel Stories
- Castleford’s River Aire footbridge uses steel fabricated elements to provide a strong, durable solution for the high-traffic river crossing.
- C&C’s expertise in steel fabrication supports steel projects to ensure they are durable and exactly what your business needs.
Located 4 miles from C&C’s headquarters in Ferrybridge, the 130-metre River Aire footbridge in Castleford, West Yorkshire, was a modern feat of engineering over a fast-flowing river in the centre of a growing town. The construction of the bridge was featured in a 2008 Channel 4 TV documentary series.
The project’s background
The multi-award-winning bridge was designed by architects selected by local community representatives to complete the project, as part of a wider invitational competition in 2003.
When designing the bridge, the architects incorporated a distinctive S-shape curve to help the bridge follow the structure of the existing weir. The structure uses four identical 26-metre curved spans connected by three 9-metre support spans.
As part of the supporting elements, the steel box beam also provides seating on the bridge, to replicate waves of the river and allow viewpoints of the river, the riverside mill and the old, wrecked barge ‘Thomas’ which sits on the riverbed below.
Steel supporting elements
Steel was chosen to create the supporting components to the bridge, these included:
- Two steel box beams, including one which increases in depth to provide additional strength, and form integrated seating on the bridge deck.
- Stainless steel balustrades and tension cables, which provide safety and structural support to the bridge.
- Three sets of V-shaped steel piers which branch from foundations below the water level, helping to reinforce the bridge structure while minimising the impact to the flow of the river and look visually appealing.
Why choose steel?
Steel, and particularly stainless steel, have a range of properties which make it the ideal material for the construction of bridges.
Durability & strength
In changing environments such as over a river, bridge materials must remain durable against wear, impact, and exposure. Galvanised, weathering or stainless-steel resists corrosion, weathering, and physical damage over decades of use. This gives peace of mind that the staircase will remain safe in changing environments. Steel also has an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for supporting the heavy foot traffic of the River Aire footbridge, without the bulk of concrete.
Low maintenance
With or without protective finishes like powder coating, steel requires minimal upkeep, reducing their lifetime costs. Opting for steel components in a bridge project ensures a cost-efficient investment into the long-term solution.
Barbara Kelly, senior estimator at C&C Fabrications commented: “Steel is the optimal choice for bridge projects, especially where they are exposed to changing conditions year-round.
“The footbridge in Castleford is exposed to changing river and weather conditions, so when building the bridge, the developers will have had to keep this in mind. Thanks to its durability and low maintenance, the bridge requires minimal upkeep, without compromising on the safety of those using the bridge daily.”
