Companies compete to build bridges over Olympic Park waters

The shortlisted teams competing to deliver the latest packages of structures and bridges for the Olympic Park have been announced by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).

The structures, roads and bridges project will play a major role in creating a compact and integrated Olympic Park and leaving an open and accessible area in legacy. The project has been divided into a number of contract packages and contracts for the first four packages of work were awarded at the start of the year. The companies shortlisted for the next two packages of bridges work have now been announced:

Wetland area bridges

The construction of three footbridges in the north of the Olympic Park across the River Lea to provide crucial east–west links across the Park. The footbridges will be permanent structures with temporary elements added for use during the Games to accommodate increased spectator numbers.

The shortlisted teams are:

• Costain
• Edmund Nuttall 
• John Sisk & Son (Holdings) 
• Lagan Construction 
• Norwest Holst 
• Skanska Construction UK

Central Park bridge

The construction of a footbridge on the central pedestrian concourse in the Olympic Park, spanning approximately 30m over the River Lea at a focal point between the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre.

The ODA has selected Heneghan Peng Architects as the designers of the Central Park bridge. The scope of the construction contract includes a single bridge structure in Games-time that is transformed in legacy to leave two footbridges linked by a central blade-like walkway offering links between the river towpaths and the upper concourse in the Olympic Park.

The shortlisted teams are:  

• Carillion Construction
• Costain
• Edmund Nuttall
• John Sisk and Son (Holdings)
• Lagan Construction

ODA Director of Infrastructure Simon Wright said: 'The structures, bridges and highways project will be the key to joining the various parts of the Olympic Park jigsaw together, creating new connections across the Park and new links between local communities. The Wetlands bridges will provide important east-to-west links across the site and the Central Park bridge will be a striking structure in the heart of the Olympic Park. There has been a great deal of interest in these two projects and we are pleased to have such high quality shortlists competing to deliver these essential works.'

The contract for the wetland area bridges will be awarded in autumn 2008 with work due to start on site in early 2009. The Central Park bridge contract is expected to be awarded in late 2008 with work due to start on site in 2009.

Notes to Editors:

1. Images of Heneghan Peng’s designs for the Central Park bridge are available from the ODA press office on request

2. More than 30 bridges, temporary and permanent, will be built in and around the Olympic Park in total

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700

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