The deck of a new movable active travel bridge designed by Knight Architects that will connect Waterford City Centre with North Quays Strategic Development Zone over the River Suir, has now been installed.
This marks a new milestone in Ireland’s largest ever urban regeneration project.
The superstructure bridge dec,k part of the River Suir Sustainable Transport Bridge in Waterford, Ireland – designed by Knight Architects in collaboration with Roughan & O’Donovan as lead Engineer and Hardesty & Hanover as M&E Engineer – have now been successfully installed. The 207m-long pedestrian and cycle bridge is a centrepiece of the €200million Waterford North Quays Infrastructure Project, Ireland’s largest urban regeneration initiative.
Commissioned by Waterford City & County Council and constructed by BAM, the crossing will create a vital active travel connection across the River Suir when it opens to the public in 2026, linking the historic city centre to the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at the North Quays. The bridge forms a critical component in unlocking the SDZ’s potential for private sector-led regeneration, including new homes, offices, hospitality, and public amenities.
Spanning the river with a quiet elegance, the bridge pays tribute to the city’s vibrant trading legacy and its deep-rooted connection to the majestic River Suir. The structure’s subtle curves and faceted steel superstructure take inspiration from Waterford’s celebrated tradition of crystal glassware, while its twin-leaf bascule span – concealed discreetly within the deck – ensures continued navigability of the river for marine traffic. Above each of the feature piers, the bridge deck widens to form generous viewing platforms, furnished with bespoke seating to invite pause and reflection over the Suir and its evolving surroundings.
Designed for multi-modal use, the bridge will facilitate pedestrians and cyclists, forming a new section of urban greenway that ultimately links the Waterford to Dungarvan and Waterford to New Ross Greenways. The bridge design is also future proofed to facilitate a future electric shuttle bus connecting the north and south quays. To ensure efficient movement on the bridge coupled with safe transitions at the end, Knight Architects designed a new urban realm at the South Plaza landing site which features an array of surfaces which help intuitively guide pedestrians and cyclists in the right direction. This area activates the waterfront and integrates the area’s wider active mobility network, further enhancing the public realm of Ireland’s oldest city. In addition to enhancing local transport, the project aligns with Ireland’s climate goals by encouraging modal shift and reducing car dependency.
Tom Osborne, Director at Knight Architects, says: “This bridge does far more than connect two sides of a river. It connects the past with the future, catalysing the transformation of Ireland’s oldest city whilst responding sensitively to its historic cultural and urban context. It represents a bold and forward-looking investment in the city’s future and will act as a key enabler for the North Quays development, bringing new homes, jobs and cultural offerings to Waterford. It’s been a privilege to help shape a structure that so clearly demonstrates the value of sustainable, people-centred infrastructure.”
Knight Architects’ involvement in the project spans from concept to completion (RIBA Stages 1–5), exemplifying the practice’s long-term, collaborative approach to design and delivery.
PIC-KNIGHT ARCHITECTS
