July 5, 2016
Work has started on a brand new pedestrian bridge that will link Castle Park with the Finzels Reach development with the current development being led by Cubex Land backed by Palmer Capital.
This week work has started on putting the foundations in place for the bridge and there has also been preparation work on either side of the Floating Harbour.
The original plans for the footbridge were for an ambitious steel loop called a Mobius – which is a never ending spiral shape.
Those plans have been scaled down but the bridge will still be an eye-catching addition to Castle Park and the city centre.
It is also hoped that the new bridge will encourage more people to use the new shops and bars planned for the Finzels Reach area.
The Finzels Reach development on the former Courage Brewery site was halted at the height of the recession but was relaunched several years ago.
Building firm Andrew Scott has been awarded the contract and the work is expected to take around five to six months to complete meaning it will be open to the public in the autumn.
Bill Pugh, contracts manager at Andrew Scott, said: “The shared pedestrian and cycle bridge will link the mixed use development Finzels Reach with Castle Park and Cabot Circus without the need for stairs or lifts making it accessible for all.
“Whilst there are a few technical and logistical challenges that we’ll have to overcome to bring the project to completion, we are confident that the finished result will be a striking compliment to an already exciting development.”
The Finzels Reach scheme includes a new 168-bedroom hotel, 420 new flats, shops, craft bars and restaurants.
The new bridge has been designed to give better access from Finzel’s Reach to the centre city, in the hope of encouraging more businesses, including cafes and shops, to open there.
The original Mobius Bridge was an arch of twisted white steel, based on the concept of the mathematical concept of a one-sided Mobius Strip, was designed by renowned bridge architect Julian Hakes.
Developer Cubex proposed the new design after it bought the Finzels Reach site at the end of 2014.
Author: Michael Ribbeck, Bristol Post