St Philips Footbridge, Bristol

Award Winning Innovative Y-Shape bridge acting as a catalyst for urban regeneration

Information card about St Philip's Bridge in Bristol for Bristol City Council, valued at £3.1m with a 50-week duration.
An aerial view of a construction site with a large blue and white crane installing a bridge span over a river, surrounded by an industrial area and a residential neighborhood.
An aerial view of a construction site with cranes building a bridge over a small river in an urban area.
A large crane is installing a new bridge over a river, with a blue arch and white supports, in a construction site on the riverbank surrounded by industrial buildings and residential areas in the background.
An aerial view of a construction site with a large crane lifting materials over a river, surrounded by buildings, parking lots, and green hills in the background.

Offsite Construction Award – Infrastructure Project

BD&E Bridges Awards Construction Award projects below £5 million

ICE Medium Sized Project Award - Shortlisted

As Principal Contractor, we proudly delivered the award-winning St. Philip’s Bridge—an elegant and innovative 50-metre span, 4-metre wide Y-shaped steel structure crossing the River Avon in Bristol. Designed to enhance connectivity and promote active travel, the bridge provides improved access to Temple Island and strengthens the link between Bristol Temple Meads railway station and the nearby Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.

Commissioned by Bristol City Council, this pedestrian and cycle bridge stands out for its distinctive urban design. Though visually sleek and simple, it was carefully engineered to overcome a series of complex site constraints. Its unique Y-shaped form accommodates the significant height difference between the two riverbanks. One branch of the bridge leads to an elevated concrete ramp, offering inclusive access for cyclists and disabled users, while the other branch descends via a staircase to connect with an existing pedestrian footpath.

The forked steel beam design not only addresses the topographical challenges but also creates a striking architectural statement within Bristol’s evolving cityscape. St. Philip’s Bridge reflects a thoughtful blend of form and function, supporting the city's sustainable transport vision and reinforcing its identity as a forward-thinking, accessible urban hub.

I would like to commend the ASL site team for maintaining excellent site relations on a difficult project, particularly in relation to the adjudication which was ongoing whilst the contract was live and ultimately decided in Bristol City Council's favour.

Despite this the ASL site team continued to maintain good relations with Jacobs and BCC personnel and did not allow this matter to affect the normal working and liaison. I would also like to comment SHS (ASL's steelwork sub-contractor) for their professionalism in constructing and lifting the footbridge which was of a unique and complex design.

Ian Astbury - NEC3 Project Manager