Another step towards greener bridges

High-strength modern composite materials present huge opportunities for a new generation of cost-effective bridges and structures. New innovative ways of designing and building composite footbridges over the railway can specifically target key metrics of reduced cost and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

In the UK, COWI is working with the National Composites Centre, Network Rail and Marks Barfield Architects on developing a concept footbridge named “Futura” into a prototype to demonstrate the benefits that can be gained from using lightweight and durable composite materials in railway station environments for both new build and replacement structures.

The footbridge demonstrator will adopt modern methods of construction and platform architecture through a standardised design and set of adaptable components, which is created in factories with digital controls for simple, rapid precision fit assembly in the station environment.