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English Heritage project enters final phase as sections of new bridge arrive in Tintagel. 12 steel sections will be installed by cable crane over the coming weeks. Spanning approximately 70 metres, the new bridge will recreate the historic link between the mainland and island.

The new footbridge at Tintagel Castle is beginning to take shape, as sections of the dramatic steel crossing have started to be installed at the coastal site ahead of the castle re-opening this summer.

The bridge has been divided into 12 separate sections, each made from up to 4.5 tonnes of steel. They are arriving in Tintagel village fully fabricated and will be lifted into place at the castle by a cable crane. The installation of the steel sections marks the final stage of the ambitious project, which will improve access to the site, recreate the historic crossing between the mainland and island, and help to conserve and protect the landscape.

Designed by Ney & Partners and William Matthews Associates Architectural Practice, Tintagel Castle’s new footbridge is a striking feat of engineering.  It will be installed in 12 steel sections, each with five key elements: the lower chord, upper chord, deck bracing, Telford bracing and finger joints. Production began offsite in the autum, and the sections forming the mainland half of the bridge have arrived in Tintagel to be installed this week.

Tintagel’s remote location and challenging landscape have called for an innovative approach to the construction. The bridge is made from two cantilevers, which reach out and (almost) touch in the middle. It will be installed without scaffolding or free standing supports; instead, an unusual cable crane has been constructed for the task. Using technology pioneered in the Swiss Alps, the cable crane has already been used to deliver materials to the site, put in place the rock anchors and build the foundations for the bridge. Now it is being called into action to drop each of the pre-fabricated sections of the bridge into place.

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