The crossing will serve as both a statement bridge and a striking visual representation of the work Swansea Council is carrying out to create an urban destination that brings together the best of city living and access to nature. The 49m bridge will span six lanes of traffic, acting as a gateway to the city centre for both pedestrians and cyclists.
Swansea city centre is undergoing one of the largest urban transformations currently being delivered in the UK with a funding of £1billion. With its emphasis on active travel, sustainable and beautiful public spaces, and leisure and hospitality, as well as the removal of redundant and outdated retail space, the council’s vision for Swansea, which was set in motion before the pandemic, has been vindicated.
The bridge provides easy access between Swansea city centre and a new 3,500 capacity arena being built in the leisure led first phase of the Copr Bay project. By improving access between Swansea city centre, its emerging leisure and hospitality offering, and its surrounding areas of natural beauty, the bridge will be both a visually appealing crossing and a landmark in the project to reimagine what cities should offer in the post-pandemic era.
A symbolic moment in the regeneration of Swansea, the installation process took just two hours, with construction having taken place nearby, on the Copr Bay construction site, between April and December 2020. The bridge balances a contemporary aesthetic with references that celebrate the city’s heritage. The bridge design includes 2,756 laser cut origami inspired shapes, each dispersed across the panels to create a visually interesting pattern and sometimes creating a complete origami swan image.
The £135m first phase of the Copr Bay project, part of the wider regeneration of the city, features statement design and striking architecture combined with new leisure uses and green spaces. Attractions will include a 1.1 acre coastal park, which will be the first major park created in the city since the Victorian era, a cycle hub and a 3,500 capacity arena and live events space. Copr Bay Phase One also features a 1,500 sq ft café and restaurant in its landscaped new coastal park, with a further 8,000 sq ft of hospitality space, encompassing a range of independent cafes, restaurants and shops.