Architecture

One-of-a-kind footbridge tumbles over to let boats pass

One-of-a-kind footbridge tumbles over to let boats pass
Described as a square that rolls by designer Thomas Randall-Page, the Cody Dock Rolling Bridge has a novel method of allowing boats to pass
Described as a square that rolls by designer Thomas Randall-Page, the Cody Dock Rolling Bridge has a novel method of allowing boats to pass
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge took seven years to realize
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge took seven years to realize
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge is part of a redevelopment of a former industrial dock area in London, England
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge is part of a redevelopment of a former industrial dock area in London, England
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge was fabricated in South London and then transported to the site using two trucks
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge was fabricated in South London and then transported to the site using two trucks
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge's oak sections have corners that were carefully steam bent from straight wood by a specialist
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge's oak sections have corners that were carefully steam bent from straight wood by a specialist
The upper areas of the Cody Dock Rolling Bridge are filled with a mixture of scrap steel and concrete ballast to help balance its weight
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The upper areas of the Cody Dock Rolling Bridge are filled with a mixture of scrap steel and concrete ballast to help balance its weight
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge is finished in weathered steel, lending it a rusted look that helps it blend in with the old industrial dock
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge is finished in weathered steel, lending it a rusted look that helps it blend in with the old industrial dock
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge has steel "teeth" which fit into tracks that are installed on either bank
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge has steel "teeth" which fit into tracks that are installed on either bank
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge rotates 180 degrees before coming to a stop
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge rotates 180 degrees before coming to a stop
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge weighs 13 tonnes (almost 15 US tons)
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge weighs 13 tonnes (almost 15 US tons)
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge is operated using hand cranks
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge is operated using hand cranks
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge, by Thomas Randall-Page, takes around 20 minutes to fully roll it into position for a boat to pass
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The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge, by Thomas Randall-Page, takes around 20 minutes to fully roll it into position for a boat to pass
Described as a square that rolls by designer Thomas Randall-Page, the Cody Dock Rolling Bridge has a novel method of allowing boats to pass
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Described as a square that rolls by designer Thomas Randall-Page, the Cody Dock Rolling Bridge has a novel method of allowing boats to pass
View gallery - 12 images

Admittedly, this recently completed footbridge isn't the easiest, nor the most practical way to get people from one side of a river to another – but it might be one of the most creative. The unique crossing can roll a full 180 degrees to make space for boats to pass under it.

Appropriately named the Cody Dock Rolling Bridge, the project was realized as part of a larger redevelopment of a former industrial dock area in London, England. The dock is now home to an artistic community who are in the process of transforming it into a creative hub.

As part of the renovation, it was decided to reopen the dock to a nearby river's tidal waters, which in turn required the removal of an old dam on the site and the construction of a new footbridge. Simon Myers, of Gasworks Dock Partnership, who's in charge of redeveloping the dock, was intending to install a traditional bascule bridge for the site. However, when architect Thomas Randall-Page heard of these plans, he approached Myers and, with the support of engineer Tim Lucas, pitched a counter proposal for a far more ambitious rolling bridge.

The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge, by Thomas Randall-Page, takes around 20 minutes to fully roll it into position for a boat to pass
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge, by Thomas Randall-Page, takes around 20 minutes to fully roll it into position for a boat to pass

The resulting bridge is partly inspired by Victorian-era infrastructure like canal locks and is constructed from weathered steel and oak, weighing in at 13 tonnes (almost 15 US tons). It works like this. In its usual position, cyclists and pedestrians simply make their way across like a normal bridge. However, when a boat needs to pass under it, steel teeth installed on the ends of the bridge allow it roll on a pair of tracks that are installed into the concrete abutments on either bank, significantly increasing headroom for the boats. The process takes about 20 minutes, so it's not like it turns too suddenly to be safe, despite how fast it looks in the timelapse above.

The bridge includes scrap metal and concrete ballast, countering the weight of the deck and enabling it to smoothly roll through an entire 180 degrees until it comes to a stop at a fully inverted position. Impressively, the whole thing is so carefully engineered that it requires no motors or electricity to move. Instead, it's totally powered by hand winches.

The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge rotates 180 degrees before coming to a stop
The Cody Dock Rolling Bridge rotates 180 degrees before coming to a stop

"Raising, swinging, sliding, folding and tilting ... the solutions to the challenge of the opening bridge are many and varied," said Randall-Page's press release. "Seeing the potential for public spectacle inherent in the opening of a bridge, Thomas set about adding to this long established list of motions. Rolling along to the channel it crosses, this unique bridge design owes much to its Victorian forbears.

"They knew that moving large heavy structures efficiently requires that they are part of balanced systems, and this design works on the same principle of equilibrium. Part of an ambitious community led regeneration project, we hope this revolutionary bridge will become an important landmark and a symbol of the dynamic creative community which is growing here."

Source: Thomas Randall-Page

View gallery - 12 images
13 comments
13 comments
CraigAllenCorson
So if a boat comes by, it's out of service as a bridge for FORTY MINUTES!?!?!
What a good thing that it's one of a kind.
Bob Flint
Or just build a higher foot bridge that doesn't have moving parts, with spiral ramps on both sides, 100% for both boats & pedestrians, up until the sail boat masts are too tall...
Rick O
So someone has to crank this thing by hand for 40 minutes? I think it's quite interesting, but that 40 minute downtime and manual operation needs to be changed. I would think coordinating some electric winches could cut down that considerably and still be safe.
Chase
I am a little confused why something brand new looks like it's been plucked straight out of a steampunk-inspired spinoff of The Walking Dead, 30 years after maintenance schedules had been abandoned in favor of shooting re-animated local residents.
Nelson Hyde Chick
The bridge ends at a concrete wall, so it is pointless.
Smokey_Bear
That's a cool bridge, but yeah, and electric winch could make that a 60 second process.
vince
I agree with RicKO that the manual operation should be changed to an electrical system with a motor and faster operation--I'm sure they can cut that time from 40 minutes to 10 minutes or less with a well designed electrical motor system. But the system itself is ingenious. Sadly the system won't work on a much larger scale preventing it's use in car bridges or train bridges for example.
LooseSends
Amazing how many commenters on NA are so enamoured with their intellectual capacity can't seem to comprehend that this is more a work of engineering art than the most efficient means of building a canal bridge. If they were half as smart as they obviously think themselves to be they'd simply suggest making a permanent bridge with steps, lol!

The most entertaining thing about New Atlas is the armchair engineers in the comments section!
Mous
Looks like the canal ends & there's no place for a boat to go beyond the bridge anyway. so a 40 minute wait would never happen, they could just pop out and go shopping and the bridge would stay where it is.
Brian M
Clearly designed by an engineer with more of a sense of humour than a a flair for practical design!
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