| Architect | ARCA | 
| Date
                            Built | 2002 | 
| Location | Over the
                            Mancunian Way in Hulme | 
| Description | |
|  The
                                  Mancunian Way Footbridge was designed
                                  by the architectural practice of Arca.
                                  They say of the projectect that, "The inner city
                                    community of Moss Side & Hulme
                                    had requested a safe direct link to
                                    the city centre throughout the years
                                    of regeneration and investment in
                                    the district. A permanent pedestrian
                                    bridge offered this, and the
                                    opportunity to allow the amenity of
                                    the new Hulme Park to be reached by
                                    city workers."    As the CUBE Website says the opening of this bridge, "nails forever the era of the underpass". The bridge loops elegantly across the Mancunian Way from Melbourne Street on the city side to Jackson Crescent in Hulme, near the Brian Redhead Court university residence complex.  The £1.5
                                  Million bridge was opened to
                                  pedestrians on Sunday
                                    28 July, 2002, in time for the
                                    Manchester Marathon to pass beneath
                                    it.  Arca
                                describe it as follows, "It consists of a 150mlong
                                  tubular steel truss, tapering from 4m
                                  to 2m over the 50m span.  It is
                                  asymmetric in section giving a
                                  distinctive and varied appearance from
                                  all angles, but that importantly is
                                  also open and secure for the
                                  users.  The concept proposes a
                                  human, tactile solution for the bridge
                                  and its setting, through the sensitive
                                  use of materials and architectural
                                  form. In particular, the bridge plays
                                  on the contrast between a muscular
                                  steel frame and the gridded timber
                                  surfaces it cradles, and which lie
                                  next to the people crossing it."  The timber used on the bridge is an ethically sourced Brazilian hardwood called Cumaru. I agree with the comment on the CUBE website regarding the steelwork. It says, "I’ve a feeling that all concerned in both design and commission thought they were working on a light-weight and elegant solution. As it has turned out, the steel work resembles an extruded section of North Sea Oil piping. .....  .... The dark grey-painted pipes look as if they ought to be sublet to a utilities company, carrying some gas or liquid from the south to the north of the city. This is not wholly unpleasant, it is just very big and heavy, and it looks as if it has been harder work than anybody anticipated." ******************** - Walk the bridge -     | |

