Highways England
A63 Castle Street, Hull
Architect: Matter Architects
Engineer: Arup
Principal Contractor: Tilbury Douglas
Murdoch’s Connection Footbridge
The Murdoch’s Connection Footbridge, named after Hull’s first female GP, Dr Mary Murdoch, is a key component of the A63 highway improvement scheme in Hull.
This stunning structure creates a spectacular gateway into Hull whilst forming a critical link for pedestrians and cyclists between the city and the nearby vibrant marina area. Replacing a very busy controlled pedestrian crossing, the new bridge has already proved to be a resounding success with locals and visitors alike. The bridge truly has a sense of place; a walk across on a sunny lunchtime will see people smiling and enjoying the views and stopping to take selfies.
Driven by client Highways England, the delivery team of Matter Architecture, structural engineers Arup, Principal Contractors Tilbury Douglas and fabricators SH Structures worked closely throughout the project.
The ambitious design presented its challenges, particularly the 3-dimensional curved plates that form the bridge canopy. Ensuring each individual plate accurately represented the required shape and provided the correct fit and tolerances for welding was no easy task. These elements were initially defined by the engineer using parametric modelling principles with digital files then being brought it into SH Structures Tekla model using IFC transfer files. Digital files were then passed files on to the supply chain sub-contractors for the bending of the tubular members, forming of the complex canopy plates and the lighting design using either Rhino or IFC protocols.
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