Simply CDM was appointed to provide CDM Principal Designer support to Walsh and Client CDM Advisor services on the Bridgewater Triangle Bridge, a new landmark road and pedestrian bridge in east London. The single-span structure crosses the Waterworks River in Stratford and was commissioned by the London Legacy Development Corporation to improve connectivity to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The bridge provides primary access to the Bridgewater Triangle housing development, a mixed-tenure residential scheme of approximately 600 new homes, master-planned by Mikhail Riches. As such, the bridge was a critical item of enabling infrastructure, required to accommodate vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, while also facilitating the re-opening of the towpath beneath the structure.
The bridge design was developed by William Matthews Associates in collaboration with Walsh. The structure comprises a distinctive pair of triangular steel trusses forming a robust yet visually lightweight deck. The single-span arrangement eliminated the need for intermediate supports within the river, reducing environmental impact and long-term maintenance risk.
Construction was undertaken by Ballymore and infrastructure sub-contractor Kilnbridge and was defined by significant logistical and sequencing challenges. The constrained urban site and limited access precluded conventional delivery methods, resulting in the entire 320-tonne steel bridge being fabricated off-site and transported by barge along the river for installation. The lift and placement operation, carried out in mid-2025, required detailed temporary works design, marine coordination, and careful interface management with adjacent infrastructure and stakeholders.
As CDM Principal Designer, Simply CDM coordinated the pre-construction health and safety aspects of the design, focusing on the management of risks associated with heavy steel fabrication, marine transport, complex lifting operations, and works over water. Particular emphasis was placed on eliminating and reducing risk through design, planning safe construction sequencing, and ensuring clear communication of residual risks to the contractor team.
The completed Bridgewater Triangle Bridge delivers a vital piece of transport and public realm infrastructure, demonstrating effective collaboration between client, designers, and contractor.
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