£19m Olympic Park Footbridge Opens Following Complex River Installation in East London

A major new pedestrian and cycle bridge has officially opened at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park following the completion of a technically demanding £19 million infrastructure project delivered across one of east London’s most constrained construction sites.

The newly completed Bridgewater Road Bridge spans the Waterworks River in Stratford and is expected to play a key role in improving connectivity across the Olympic Park while unlocking future regeneration and housing development in the surrounding area.

Delivered by Kilnbridge on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), the 44-metre single-span steel structure creates a new permanent crossing linking the Greenway, Pudding Mill and the emerging Bridgewater Triangle development zone.

The bridge was formally marked complete this week during a ceremony attended by representatives from Kilnbridge, Ballymore, LLDC and the wider project team.

Complex Installation Over Waterways and Rail Infrastructure

The project presented significant engineering challenges due to the highly restricted nature of the site, which was surrounded by waterways, railway infrastructure and areas with limited crane access.

As a result, engineers were forced to adopt an unconventional construction approach.

Rather than lifting the bridge into place traditionally, the structure was assembled on a floating pontoon before being carefully manoeuvred into position along the river and hydraulically jacked onto its permanent bearings during a highly coordinated operation carried out last summer.

The works also involved the demolition of an existing 1930s bridge, underwater activities, marine logistics operations and the installation of high-strength structural steel components.

Kilnbridge delivered the project under a full-scope appointment covering demolition, steel fabrication, temporary works, marine operations and final structural installation.

Supporting East London Regeneration

The bridge forms part of wider regeneration plans for the Olympic Park area and has been developed in partnership with Homes England.

It will act as a key access point into the future Bridgewater Triangle neighbourhood — a major residential development being delivered through a joint venture between LLDC and Ballymore.

In addition to supporting future housing delivery, the bridge is expected to improve walking and cycling connectivity across the area and strengthen access to Pudding Mill Lane DLR station.

Project partners say the structure has been designed not only as a transport link, but as a long-term piece of civic infrastructure supporting sustainable travel and community integration.

“A Technically Complex Piece of Infrastructure”

Kilnbridge Chief Executive Owen Dannatt said the project demonstrated the benefits of early collaboration and specialist engineering expertise.

“The Bridgewater Road Bridge is a strong example of what can be achieved when early collaboration, practical engineering and specialist delivery come together,” he said.

“From the outset, this was a highly constrained site that ruled out conventional solutions, so the team had to think differently.

“We’re proud to have delivered a piece of infrastructure that not only looks distinctive but will play a lasting role in supporting movement, connectivity and regeneration in east London.”

Ballymore Chief Executive John Mulryan described the bridge as a critical piece of enabling infrastructure for the next phase of development within the Olympic Park area.

“Beyond improving day-to-day connectivity for local people, it establishes critical infrastructure ahead of the area’s next phase of development and helps unlock the delivery of a new neighbourhood,” he said.

“Delivering a project of this complexity within a constrained urban environment required close collaboration across the wider team, and we’re pleased to see the bridge now in place and ready to support the community for years to come.”

The completion of the Bridgewater Road Bridge marks another significant milestone in the long-term transformation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park following the London 2012 Games, with major residential and infrastructure development continuing across the wider Stratford area.