Castleford Bridge

The pedestrian bridge curves in response to the site context of the mill, the weir and old wrecked barge, giving users maximum experience of these landmarks. The streamlined timber deck bridge is designed as a public space as well as a route, with the structure rising through the deck to create four 20 metre curving benches to sit and enjoy the panoramic views.

Materials include untreated Cumaru timber for the bridge decking and handrail, stainless steel for the balustrades, tension cables, bench panels and a central grille in the timber deck to mark the midpoint of contra-flexure. Cumaru having two and half times the density of oak was chosen for its durability and was sourced from sustainable forests in Brazil.

The bridge is the first phase of McDowell+Bendetti’s proposed waterfront regeneration master plan, which includes a new public square and boardwalk on the south bank, a landscaped public space on the north bank, and a cohesive lighting strategy surrounding the bay called the “string of pearls”. The design and construction process was featured in a Channel 4 television documentary.