A person sitting on a modern pedestrian bridge surrounded by lush green trees and overlooking a calm river. The scene is serene and bathed in soft, natural light, with leaves partially framing the view.

Salford Meadows Bridge

Manchester, England

2013

Client City of Salford

Infrastructure · Foot & Cycle

This shortlisted proposal for a new bridge across the River Irwell in Salford balances visual playfulness with a impression of transparency, allowing its users to enjoy both it and its natural parkland setting. The structure is predominantly located below the walkway level, allowing unrestricted views off the bridge to all parts of the landscape. Only at the ends of the bridge do the catenary cables that support the deck rise up several feet to create fan-like shapes announcing the bridge landings.

A tranquil river flows through lush greenery, reflecting the surrounding trees. A sleek, modern bridge spans across, blending with the natural scenery. The sky is clear, adding to the serene atmosphere.

Stepped and ramped access at the Salford Meadows end is combined with a cascade of green seating, providing a natural amphitheatre. The proposal is to remove the minimum number of trees possible, allowing bridge users to experience a range of transitions between highway, river, trees, and open parkland settings.