New London 2012 bridge opens
13 September 2010
A new bridge on the site of the London 2012 Olympic Games has been opened by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).
The new bridge will provide improved road, walking and cycling links into the Olympic Park and is situated at Angel Lane in Stratford, across the railway lines going into Stratford Regional Station.
It replaces the old Angel Lane bridge constructed during the Victorian era, which had weight restrictions and poor sight lines for vehicles, and only one pedestrian walkway with no cycle lane.
The new bridge provides improved vehicle and bus routes, new cycle lanes and two pedestrian footpaths. A new piece of public artwork has also been installed along one of the pedestrian footpaths as part of the work.
Construction of the new bridge means essential work can be carried out at Stratford Regional Station for the Games, including the extension of platform 10a to allow greater passenger capacity on trains travelling from central London.
The new bridge also features a new piece of public artwork following a design competition for students at London's Royal College of Art to design a mural to be painted along one of the pedestrian footpaths. The winning design uses the parapets of the bridge to form a 'window' onto the horizon behind, creating an intricate mural of white clouds against a blue sky.
Construction of the new Angel Lane bridge started in September 2008 with the bridge completed on time when it opened to vehicles on 5th September this year, in time for the new school term when traffic in the area increases. The bridge is 42 m-long and 18 m-wide, featuring two vehicle lanes with on-street cycle lanes and pedestrian footpaths on either side.
According to the ODA, sustainability played an important role in the construction of the new bridge. Demolition of the old Angel Lane structure created 700 m3 of waste material, all of which was sorted and re-used. A new landscaped area is also being created next to the bridge structure for local residents.
The new bridge was constructed by Balfour Beatty.
The cloud mural artwork was designed by RCA students Nazareno Crea and Oscar Bauer
