The Lower Thames Crossing Project has named its shortlist of five designs in a competition to design a structure that uses low-carbon materials and methods.
National Highways, the government company responsible for major roads in England, launched the competition in July to find a sustainable, innovative design for a footbridge over a major road in the south east of England. The winner will be announced towards the end of spring 2025.
The five shortlisted entries came from Arup and Sean Harrington Associates, COWI and Moxon, Davies Maguire Ltd, Useful Studio Architects and Expedition Engineering, and Webb Yates Engineers.
Arup and Sean Harrington Associates came up with a two-span bridge with twin haunched glulam girders. It has an all-steel central pier and steep reinforced earth embankments for the approaches. Credit National Highways
COWI and Moxon’s slender timber bridge is supported on a V-shaped stainless steel pier. This minimises span lengths for efficiency. Credit National Highways
Davies Maguire’s timber bridge with twin haunched girders has an inclined steel prop as the main pier and stone columns for the approach piers. Credit National Highways
Useful Studio Architects and Expedition Engineering imagined a modular truss bridge designed on the basis of regeneration and circularity. It will re-use steel materials and adopt an industrial process for repeatability and efficiency. Credit National Highways
Webb Yates Engineers offered a modern interpretation of the traditional stone bridge. Their design is a prestressed stone bridge, with the internal tendon profile reflected in the treatment of the façade. Credit National Highways
The competition got 30 entries, and these were assessed anonymously. The judging criteria included use of low-carbon materials and construction methods, and evidence of good design principles to allow ease of access and a pleasant crossing experience.
The Lower Thames Crossing Project is a proposed road and tunnel in the south east of England.
