River Camel Footbridge, Cornwall, UK

Project Overview

This 180ft suspension footbridge over the River Camel is affectionately known as “Anneka’s Bridge” and was built by the Challenge Anneka hit TV programme in 1991, hosted by Anneka Rice. After 31 years of use the timber bridge deck needed safe replacement and was superseded by Dura Composites pedestrian duty GRP Dura Slab Light Type 40 Panels with a 60 year lifespan and advanced anti-slip properties.

d² GRP fast tracked refurb, with bridge open in just 10 weeks.

“Anneka’s Bridge” over the River Camel is a suspension footbridge with a length of 180 feet. It gained its name from its construction during an episode of the popular TV show “Challenge Anneka” in 1991. The show was hosted by TV personality Anneka Rice, who was known for leading teams of volunteers in completing charitable projects within a tight time frame.

Since its initial moment in the limelight, after 31 years the old timber bridge deck had degraded over time and required refurbishment to safeguard its important role in connecting the communities on either side of the river. Inspections revealed areas requiring attention, prompting the decision to refurbish the bridge with GRP Slab to address these issues and extend its lifespan.

The bridge is maintained by Cornwall Council and arms length management organisation Cormac, who appointed multi-disciplinary engineering and construction contractor Taziker to work on the refurbishment project.

Taziker selected us to supply a new pedestrian duty GRP bridge deck using our unique Dura Slab Light Type 40 Panels which met the required loading and span criteria, whilst also providing a long-term low-maintenance solution.

Connecting the communities of Egloshayle to Wadebridge, this footbridge significantly reduces journey times, so investing in it was a top priority.

The varying heights of the previous deck and the longitudinal beams versus the perimeter beams was a complicated arrangement which meant that a bespoke design was needed. Our expert in-house CAD and Structural Engineering teams were able to provide invaluable support for the project, including providing special details for our GRP Dura Profile Channel and bespoke-cut angle to support the existing substructure and provide a finishing trim.

Available from stock for immediate despatch from our East Anglian HQ, the GRP products used on this project were lightweight, easy to handle and easy to work with, helping contribute to the overall project efficiency. In fact, the bridge was able to re-open after just 10 weeks, well ahead of the planned refurbishment schedule.

Our Specialists

Our innovative recyclable products can help accelerate the construction of critical infrastructure. Talk to our experienced team about how you can tap into our specialist knowledge and engineering capability for your project.