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New Regent’s Canal cyclist bridge will be closed at nightSomers-Town-Bridge_Kings-Cross-5-800x450.jpg

New Regent’s Canal cyclist bridge will be closed at night

Security concerns mean the new infrastructure won't be 24/7...
by Sarah Barth
Sat, Apr 02, 2016 10:27
12

A new bridge for cyclists at Kings Cross will provide a crossing for the Regent’s Canal - but it will be closed at night.

The new bridge has been approved by Camden Council. Named Somers Town Bridge, it will open in spring 2017 and will link Camley Street to the heart of the ongoing King’s Cross development.

The bridge will spans the Regent’s Canal between Camley Street and what will be known as Gasholder Gardens, forming an important connection for pedestrians and cyclists to the west, into Somers Town.

At its slimmest point, the bridge is only 15mm thick and yet ingenious engineering mean that the entire 38-metre crossing is spanned without any intermediate support.

It is designed to complement the Victorian design nearby, with an industrial aesthetic and a minimalist shape.

Speaking about the planning approval, Anthony Peter, Project Director at  the railway developer Argent said: “We’re delighted that the bridge gained planning approval – it is an important connection for pedestrians and cyclists coming to King’s Cross.”

Moxon Architects practice director Ben Addy, said: “In such a diverse context of landmark structures and historic fabric it is inappropriate for the new bridge to be an overly flamboyant structure: it will be a considered and beautiful addition to the location, but even more than this we have develop a design that is as emphatically and enjoyably practical as its Victorian neighbours.”

The bridge will be three and half metres wide, and weigh 60 tonnes, constructed in four parts which will be welded in place over the space of one weekend.

After concerns were raised about security, the developers and council have arranged for the bridge to be closed at night for the first year, with a review at that point.

 

Kings Cross
London
Somers Town Bridge
infrastructure

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12 comments

Avatar
CanAmSteve | 8 years ago
0 likes

Perhaps it is my monitor, but how is that bridge only "15mm thick" at its slimmest point? Do you mean the decking is a "skin" that thick? Because those side buttresses are a lot deeper than that, so what difference visually?  It’s like saying the floor on a bus is only 3mm thick…

Avatar
Manchestercyclist | 8 years ago
0 likes

So presumably there will be road closures if security becomes a concern, or is the mindset of closures only applicable to places you don't find motorists.

Either like cycle paths having barriers for security concerns.

This all reminds me of a meeting I attended at Manchester council where it was decided that motorists had to have access to a road at night because they made it more secure. Is there any evidence at all that cars make a place safer?

Avatar
ct | 8 years ago
0 likes

Out of interest, how does one 'close' a bridge?

 

Who stumps up for the dooby to go along and 'close' it by whatever means is necessary?

Avatar
brooksby | 8 years ago
2 likes

I think authorities pick and choose as to whether cyclists are more like pedestrians or cars. Bridge has 'security concerns'? Just close it, like you would an iffy footbridge. Kind of defeats the point of having it, I would have thought.

(Flip side, for me, was the Clifton Suspension Bridge being closed to cars and cyclists recently. One footway remained open for pedestrians; cyclists could walk along that but the bridge trust discouraged it as it was narrow. Cyclists would be preferred to use the diversion the same as cars.  After all, the diversions are only a *few* miles...)

Avatar
ooldbaker replied to brooksby | 8 years ago
1 like

brooksby wrote:

 After all, the diversions are only a *few* miles...)

Extremely hilly miles too I would have thought!

We have had numerous instances of roads being completely closed in the countryside surrounding my village. Whilst it might be dangerous for cars to pass near roadworks I think consideration should always be given to see if a small path for cyclists could be kept open.

This would give cyclists a safe route away from roads with normal plus diverted traffic and also give Daily Mail readers something else to complain about.

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to ooldbaker | 8 years ago
1 like
ooldbaker wrote:

brooksby wrote:

 After all, the diversions are only a *few* miles...)

Extremely hilly miles too I would have thought!

We have had numerous instances of roads being completely closed in the countryside surrounding my village. Whilst it might be dangerous for cars to pass near roadworks I think consideration should always be given to see if a small path for cyclists could be kept open.

This would give cyclists a safe route away from roads with normal plus diverted traffic and also give Daily Mail readers something else to complain about.

I normally just take a chance. I don't think I ever couldn't get through.

Avatar
bsknight replied to brooksby | 8 years ago
0 likes

brooksby wrote:

Cyclists would be preferred to use the diversion the same as cars.  After all, the diversions are only a *few* miles...)

Fortunately I only use the bridge for pleasure. I'd have been somewhat unimpressed if it was part of my commuter route.

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to bsknight | 8 years ago
0 likes

bsknight wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Cyclists would be preferred to use the diversion the same as cars.  After all, the diversions are only a *few* miles...)

Fortunately I only use the bridge for pleasure. I'd have been somewhat unimpressed if it was part of my commuter route.

Nah - you could push the bike along just fine, no detour required and no real hassle except when people decided they would ride along it anyway. Hardly the worst view in the world whilst you do...

Avatar
Leviathan | 8 years ago
1 like

Define "Night."

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Dnnnnnn replied to Leviathan | 8 years ago
0 likes

Leviathan wrote:

Define "Night."

Homeward commuting time for a large part of the year?

I wonder if the council has done any work to establish whether the bridge after dark would still be safer than existing roads?

Avatar
brooksby replied to Dnnnnnn | 8 years ago
1 like

Duncann wrote:

Leviathan wrote:

Define "Night."

Homeward commuting time for a large part of the year?

I wonder if the council has done any work to establish whether the bridge after dark would still be safer than existing roads?

Re-reading that article I think they don't mean "safety" so much as "make it hard for plebs on bikes to get into the heart of our new development ".

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 8 years ago
2 likes

I don't see the benefit of closing it. If security is a problem, then people can just avoid using it during the night-time if they are concerned. Alternatively, they could shove a CCTV camera or two on it - we're not usually shy of doing that in this country.

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