Knight Architects鈥� pedestrian crossing to ease pressure on busy north-south route across South Dock

Knight Architects鈥� plans for a new bridge in Canary Wharf, east London, have been given the go ahead by Tower Hamlets council.

The 70m-long footbridge crossing the South Dock will link Marsh Wall on the southern part of the Isle of Dogs financial district with Jubilee Park and Foster & Partners鈥� Canary Wharf tube station.

It is intended to ease pressure on Wilkinson Eyre鈥檚 South Quay footbridge, which is currently the only north-south pedestrian link across the busy central part of the dock.

Knight south dock 3

The bridge is designed to lift to allow small boats to pass through

Knight鈥檚 bridge is split into two sections either side of a single pier, with the northern side designed to lift up to allow small boats to pass underneath.

In the middle of the movable section will be a triangular void directing pedestrians away from an existing emergency staircase serving the adjacent building and allowing 鈥渄istinctive and memorable鈥� views through the deck when it is raised, the practice said.

Tower Hamlets鈥� strategic development committee said the scheme was a 鈥渉igh-quality and elegant design, considered appropriate to its contemporary surroundings鈥� and would be a 鈥減ositive addition to the area and waterfront鈥�.

The project team also includes consultant Arcadis and engineer KGAL.

The bridge is close to another Knight-designed moveable crossing, Water Street bridge, which links Montgomery Square and Jubilee Park to the new Wood Wharf development.