Kilnbridge, London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) and Ballymore have marked the completion of the Bridgewater Road Bridge at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, celebrating the delivery of a technically complex new piece of infrastructure that strengthens connectivity around the Park and supports the next phase of east London’s long-term regeneration.
Commissioned by LLDC, engineered by Walsh and designed by award-winning architect William Matthews Associates, and landscape architect BBUK Studio, the £19 million bridge provides the local community with a new permanent crossing over the Waterworks River.
Delivered in partnership with Homes England, it serves as a gateway to the emerging Bridgewater Triangle residential neighbourhood which LLDC and Ballymore are developing as part of a 50/50 joint venture partnership. At the same time, it improves links between the surrounding Greenway and Pudding Mill neighbourhoods, and plays a key role in unlocking future homes, public realm and sustainable transport routes in the area.
The project exemplifies LLDC’s ongoing commitment to enhancing connectivity across the Park and its surrounding communities, forming part of a broader strategic vision to create a more integrated and inclusive urban landscape. It enhances access to green spaces, employment opportunities and public transport across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and beyond, while also supporting active travel by improving pedestrian and cycle links between Stratford, Pudding Mill Lane DLR station and the Park.
The visually striking 44-metre single-span steel structure was installed in summer 2025 following an innovative marine-based construction programme led by Kilnbridge. With the site heavily constrained by waterways, railway infrastructure and limited crane access, the bridge was fully assembled on a pontoon, floated into position and precisely jacked onto its permanent bearings in a carefully choreographed operation.
The works involved the challenging demolition of an existing 1930s bridge, complex marine operations, underwater activities and the fabrication and installation of high-strength structural steel.
Delivered by Kilnbridge under a full scope appointment, the project brought together in-house expertise across demolition, steel fabrication, marine logistics, temporary works and structural installation. The approach enabled the bridge to be delivered safely to programme and within agreed budget parameters, despite the technical and logistical challenges presented by the site.
Beyond its engineering complexity, the Bridgewater Road Bridge has been designed with long-term use and environmental considerations in mind. The structure’s triangular steel arrangement reduces material use and embodied carbon, while accommodating district heating services and future-proofed infrastructure beneath its pedestrian decks.
The completion ceremony, held in Stratford, brought together representatives from Kilnbridge, Ballymore, LLDC and the wider project team to recognise the collective effort behind the delivery of one of East London’s most technically ambitious bridge projects in recent years.
Owen Dannatt, Chief Executive Officer at Kilnbridge, said: “The Bridgewater Road Bridge is a strong example of what can be achieved when early collaboration, practical engineering and specialist delivery come together. From the outset, this was a highly constrained site that ruled out conventional solutions, so the team had to think differently. We’re proud to have delivered a piece of infrastructure that not only looks distinctive but will play a lasting role in supporting movement, connectivity and regeneration in east London.”
Darren Parker, Executive Director of Development at LLDC, said: “At Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park we’re constantly improving the local ecosystem, ensuring that our neighbourhoods are well-connected and convenient to navigate. The Bridgewater Road Bridge is the latest example of this. While the completion of the bridge was no easy feat, it demonstrates exemplary design and construction ingenuity that we’re especially proud of as one of London’s Innovation Districts. It’s been a pleasure teaming up with Kilnbridge and Ballymore for such a significant project that the community will make great use of.”
John Mulryan, Chief Executive Officer at Ballymore, said: “Bridgewater Road Bridge is an important investment in the long-term future of this part of east London. Beyond improving day-to-day connectivity for local people, it establishes critical infrastructure ahead of the area’s next phase of development and helps unlock the delivery of a new neighbourhood. Delivering a project of this complexity within a constrained urban environment required close collaboration across the wider team, and we’re pleased to see the bridge now in place and ready to support the community for years to come.”
The Bridgewater Road Bridge is the latest in a series of major infrastructure and public realm projects delivered across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, reinforcing the transformation of the area into one of London’s most connected and sustainable new neighbourhoods.
The bridge will serve as a key access point to the Bridgewater Triangle development and a physical link between east London’s industrial heritage and its future as a thriving residential and cultural destination.
