HS2 rural footbridge designs revealed

The designs of the footbridges to cross HS2 in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire have been unveiled.

Made of weathered steel to help them blend in to the environment, the sides of the bridges will lean outwards to increase sky visibility.

HS2 Design Director Kay Hughes said: “HS2 will provide fast and frequent zero carbon journeys between London, the midlands and the north. But it’s also essential that we keep communities on either side of the railway connected.

“That’s why I’m pleased to see the first standard footbridge designs for the project. The elegant bridges have been specially designed for Bucks, Oxon and West Northants, with weathering steel beams to match the tone of the surrounding countryside.

“I hope that walkers, riders and the community will welcome the new bridges and benefit from the huge amount of high quality design work that the design team has undertaken to develop them.“

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The bridges were designed by HS2 contractor, Milton Keynes-based EKFB, who are working alongside contractors Arcadis Setec Cowi and architects Moxon.

Each bridge will have the same underlying design to make them easier to assemble and install. They will be built into the earth to make them step-free, improving their accessibility.

EKFB’s Head of Engagement David Griffiths-Allen said: “EKFB is building more than 80 bridges across a 80km section of HS2, 11 of which are specific to connecting local communities by foot and making accessibility easy for local people and the equestrian community.

“We’re delighted with the design concepts of the bridges and a lot of thought and consideration has gone into making both designs sympathetic to the landscape and beneficial to the people who will be using them.”

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The new bridges will be used in eleven locations around Aylesbury, The Chilterns, Chipping Warden, Westbury and Finmere. The firms are aiming to install the first by October 2023.

Moxon’s Managing Director Ben Addy said: “Safety is always paramount, however accessibility and transparency were also the key design drivers for these bridges – characteristics one wouldn’t always associate with railway overbridges.

“The design team looked at how we could make the bridge approaches and the landscape around them completely accessible to create a seamless user experience for all, whether travelling on foot, on bike, on horseback or with any type of mobility aid.

“With a simple but crafted structure, we combined contrasting materials such as oak and steel, giving a warm aesthetic and creating a tactile surface for people on their journey.”

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