Taunton’s Chip Lane Footbridge, designed by HBPW as part of the new multi million pounds Northern Inner Distributor Road, is now open as the wider scheme nears completion.
The structure is one of two designed for principal contractor, Carillion plc on behalf of Somerset County Council.
HBPW Associate Engineer, Dian Coleman, who led the design, including the road bridge at Firepool, which is still under construction, said: “Chip Lane Footbridge has a 40 meter span, is of steel Warren Truss construction and crosses both the existing railway and the new Northern Inner Distributor Road.
“Rail possessions for the main bridgespan steel installation work took place last summer, Firepool is nearing completion and the overall scheme is scheduled to finish some time next year. Considering the size of this huge project, progress has been considerable over the last 18 months.”
Chip Lane replaces an existing footbridge, however, unlike the old structure, the new one features a combined footbridge and cycle way with improved disability access thanks to the provision of wider access, ramps and stairs.
Firepool bridge is a curved multi span plate girder bridge – making for a more complex design. The bridge structure is now installed with work on the approach embankment currently being finalised. The bridge crosses both the River Tone and the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.
