Adur Ferry Bridge, Shoreham Harbour

Shoreham Harbour Swing Bridge

Adur Ferry Bridge

The Adur Ferry Bridge forms a vital component of the Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 2, which will connect Dover in Kent to St. Austell in Cornwall. The project, commissioned by West Sussex County Council in partnership with Adur District Council, received a £770,000 grant from Sustrans and the Big Lottery Fund.

At a cost of around £10 million, the footbridge replaces a concrete bridge which was constructed in the 1920s. The swing bridge weighs approx. 700 tonnes and provides combined pedestrian and cycle access across the tidal River Adur and its adjacent salt flats at Shoreham-by-Sea, connecting Shoreham Beach to the town centre.

What work was done by Qualter Hall at Adur Ferry Bridge?

Qualter Hall was selected by Geoffrey Osborne Ltd and Wessex County Council to design, manufacture, supply, install and commission the mechanical and electrical operating system which enables this footbridge to open and close.

The 214-meter bridge comprises seven spans: three on each side of a substantial 50-meter central section. In 3 minutes, this central section – a cable-stayed design supported by a mast – pivots to a final open position 70 degrees from the main structure.

Operated automatically from either a south shore control room or a handheld device, the central span rotates after horizontal pins are released and retracted into the swing span’s nose.

Maintaining the bridge’s operability was crucial due to an Act of Parliament preserving the river’s navigability.

The swing bridge provides a 15.24 meter navigation channel with unlimited headroom when in the open position.

The bridge boasts a 4 metre wide crossing for pedestrians and cyclists. This is a significant improvement on the previous bridge which was just 1.5 meters wide.

In addition to the navigable central channel, this part of the River Adur experiences an extremely high tidal range which can be greater than seven metres. These challenges required the construction team to work flexibly around the river traffic and changing tides.