West India Quay Footbridge, Pontoon footbridge in Isle of Dogs, England.
The West India Quay Footbridge is a pedestrian crossing that spans the dock on four pairs of X-shaped steel struts mounted on floating pontoons. The structure has a wooden deck with two opening sections that can lift to let boats pass underneath.
The bridge was completed in 1996 at the site of the former West India Docks, which operated as major commercial shipping terminals in the 1800s. The location marks the shift from an industrial port facility to a modern residential area.
Future Systems architects Jan Kaplický and Amanda Levete designed this structure, incorporating modern engineering principles with functional pedestrian requirements.
The bridge is fully accessible to pedestrians with integrated handrail lighting for safe crossings at night. Since the structure has opening sections for boats, be aware that you may encounter brief pauses if watercraft need to pass.
The structure is painted in bright lime-green and uses polystyrene-filled pontoons that resemble a water-boatman insect floating on the surface. This unusual shape and color make it stand out distinctly in the waterfront landscape.
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