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stadium to University Plaza on the west bank. It was the first major public project in

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award; the 2007 George Gibby Award from the

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in Wales; a

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award for regeneration in Wales, and a highly commended from Wales Business Insider for their best regeneration project of 2007.

Overview

The bridge features two A-Frame masts, which support the bridge from the west bank. The masts are positioned on a shared foundation and anchored at ground level by two diameter cables that are connected the tips of the masts. The forward mast is long and the back mast is long. Because of the angle at which the masts are positioned, the bridge stands at above ground. The deck is wide and above water at high tide. The bridge has a clear span of . * Contractors:

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* Architect: Grimshaw * Structural Engineer: Atkins * Steel Fabricators:

Rowecord Engineering Rowecord Engineering Ltd was a Welsh structural steel contractor that specialised in sports facilities, footbridges, and heavy industry. Landmark works include the Olympic Aquatics Centre roof, Mary Rose Museum, Cardiff City Stadium, Liberty ...

Image:UskBridge construction.jpg, The bridge under construction Image:UskBridge_image3.JPG, Usk footbridge opening Image:UskBridge_image2.JPG, Usk footbridge masts

Design concept

The dramatic crane structures were designed as a deliberate and symbolic link to the site's earlier use as trading wharves—but with a modern twist. The deliberate location of the main structures on the west bank means that the vast majority of the construction work was kept away from the houses on the east bank, while avoiding impact on the local river ecology.

The foundations

The bridge foundations are supported by thirty diameter CFA (continuous flight auger) piles varying in length. The bridge structure is suspended on five ground anchors which are drilled into the ground. Approximately of concrete were used in the bridge foundations.

The masts

The masts are made from sheet steel which was rolled into 'cans'. These were then welded together to produce the tubes for the masts. The front mast is in diameter and was delivered to site in nine sections. It weighs approximately . The back mast is diameter and was delivered to site in seven sections. It weighs approximately .

The deck

The bridge deck is made up of five sections. The deck units were installed in sequence and then welded together. Details of the deck units are shown below: *Deck one and five ** long ** wide ** weight *Deck two and four ** long ** wide (at the outriggers) ** weight *Deck three ** long ** wide (at the outriggers) ** weight

The cables

A half mile (800 m) of cable is used to support the bridge, varying in diameter from 2 in to 4¾ in (to 50 to 120 mm), made by

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Erection

The main masts for the bridge were erected in the week commencing 1 May 2006 using the largest crane in the UK. It was officially opened on 12 September 2006 (also the centenary of

Newport Transporter Bridge The Newport Transporter Bridge ( cy, Pont Gludo Casnewydd) is a transporter bridge that crosses the River Usk in Newport, South East Wales. The bridge is the lowest crossing on the River Usk. It is a Grade I listed structure. It is one of ...

) and is the ninth crossing of the Usk in the city.

Facts

*Maximum mast height: . *Mast weight: . *The balustrades are formed from nearly two miles (three kilometres) of stainless steel wire. *The bridge deck has 178 lights (89 on either side) fitted, providing an illuminate footpath. *The masts, mast bases and back anchor are all illuminated by 36 floodlights and up-lighters.

World record highwire walk

As part of the city's "Big Splash" festival, on 30 August 2010, 45-year-old French circus star Olivier Roustan from

Toulouse Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger region of Occitania. The city is on the banks of the River Garonne, from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Pa ...

, performed the highest ever wirewalk in Europe, along the top cable of the Newport City Footbridge.Tightrope walker Olivier Roustan 250ft above Newport at bbc.co.uk
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External links

Time-lapse construction photography

References

{{City of Newport Bridges completed in 2006 Bridges in Newport, Wales Landmarks in Newport, Wales Pedestrian bridges in Wales Bridges over the River Usk