Knostrop Footbridge

The 70m-long bridge at Knostrop Weir is part of the major Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme which was a response to the destructive flooding of 2015. The crossing provides a pedestrian and cycle pathway along the River Aire and forms part of the wider Trans Pennine Trail.

A structurally simple but architecturally dynamic design was developed, with slender support piers placed upon each of the walls of the flood defence weir, which are staggered in plan. The 50mm thick unstiffened steel plates provide a visually minimal support to the sinuous deck form, allowing the deck to ‘float’ above the water.

A subtle use of plan curvature in the edges of the bridge deck produces three wider areas above the supports, where people can linger and watch the weir without impeding commuters travelling into the city.

Care was taken to avoid creating complex curvature in the architectural form of the steel deck which would have been difficult to fabricate and would have increased cost.