Campbell Wharf Bridge

This 35m-long link connects the 8.5-hectare canal side development at Campbell Wharf to a 110-berth new marina. It also provides a recreational path along the west and east banks of the Grand Union Canal, in Milton Keynes.

The plan alignment of the bridge is a bespoke response to the extraordinary site situation. The bridge spans the canal mainline at right angles before bifurcating into two branches in a plan shape that resembles the letter “Y”. The two arms connect the north and south approaches across the mouth of the marina entry. On the west side, the bridge ties into a public square located on an elevated terrace within the new development. The 3.2m wide steel bridge has a simple box beam along the spine of each of the three legs, meeting at the central node over the entrance to the boat basin.

The bridge’s distinctive plan geometry is enhanced by its bespoke parapet, which is formed in perforated weathering steel plates with cut-outs of varying shapes. In elevation, the perforations are legible as a playful pattern of varying transparency, resembling abstract silhouettes of riverside reeds and grasses.

The three arms of the bridge are designed with a smooth longitudinal gradient, ensuring the bridge is fully accessible and enjoyable to all users. Stone-filled gabions form the approaches and provide a natural environment to be colonised by the flora and fauna of the canal side.