Sail Bridge, Swansea

In many major ports throughout the world, there is an extensive program of regeneration in place transforming the old redundant docks into smart new offices, retail, residential and leisure facilities. Swansea is no exception. Under the Welsh Development Agency, the SA1 Swansea Waterside area is being transformed. Part of this transformation is the construction of two striking new bridges over the River Tawe - the Sail Bridge, featured here, and the Lock bridge at the barrage at the seaward end. 

The Sail Bridge was opened in June 2003. Design was by William Eyre, structural engineers Flint and Neill Partnership, main contractors Balfour Beatty, and steelwork contractors, Rowecord Engineering. The bridge is 142 metres long, and the deck is supported by cables strung from a 40 metre high mast; the design is inspired by the sail of a yacht.  For further technical details see the Structural Steel Design Awards website.

 
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Overview from the north	Another general view	Looking upstream from the east bank	Detail of the mast	The pier
Detail of the base of the mast and attachment to the pier	The deck, divided between cycle track on the left (north) and footway on the right (not that anyone takes any notice)	The parapet	The western approach	The marina downstream from the bridge
A particularly colourful National Cycle Network milepost - in the "Welsh" design	Space-age seat on the quayside just north of the bridge. Sainsbury's in the background	A histrocial artifact on the waterfront - a reinforced concrete beam from the old Weaver's Mill	The road bridge upstream - the previous lowest crossing of the Tawe. Note the piers of an old railway bridge.

 

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