Temporary Bridge Keeps Otley Moving During Historic Footbridge Replacement
When a 13th-century landmark in West Yorkshire faced urgent repairs, the community of Otley found itself at a crossroads. Leeds City Council’s inspections revealed structural concerns with the pedestrian section of Otley Bridge, a Grade II listed structure spanning the River Wharfe.
Determined to avoid cutting off a vital route for residents, the council commissioned a temporary solution that would keep the town connected while work on the permanent replacement took place.
Built in 1229 under the direction of the Archbishop of York, Otley Bridge has been a witness to nearly eight centuries of change. Initially constructed with local masonry for cart traffic, it underwent numerous transformations, including widening in the 18th century and the addition of a pedestrian footway in 1957. Yet, in 2023, engineers identified issues requiring the removal and replacement of that pedestrian section, to be rebuilt later this year.
Delivering a lifeline
Balfour Beatty, appointed as main contractor, brought in Mabey Hire to design, supply and install a temporary bridge that would keep foot traffic flowing. The brief was clear: the temporary structure needed to be robust, accessible, and capable of handling the rerouting of live services during construction.
Daniel Barnes, Project Manager at Balfour Beatty, explained the importance of the task: “Given the central location of the existing footbridge and the importance it holds to people on their daily commutes, it was essential that we provided a temporary alternative in the interim. There were multiple factors at play, with limited access to the work site and the need to divert live services across the temporary bridge. As such, we needed to ensure any solution provided could satisfy all these requirements. To this end, we approached Mabey Hire, having worked with them on previous projects and well aware of both their full service offering and modular bridging solutions.”
Modular engineering in action
Mabey Hire’s engineers selected their Compact 200 (C200) Pedestrian Bridge for the task. A proven heavy-duty modular panel bridge made of interchangeable steel components. The bridge was designed with mesh in-fill panels to prevent debris from falling into the river, addressing both safety and environmental concerns.
The chosen design’s modular nature meant it could be adapted precisely to the site’s challenges. Mabey Hire tailored the bridge to span 62 metres, accommodating pedestrian needs and service diversions, while incorporating accessibility ramps at both ends.
Overcoming site constraints
Space limitations proved to be one of the project’s biggest hurdles. The bridge’s location was flanked by existing buildings, narrow footpaths, and fixed street furniture, leaving little room for manoeuvre. Russell Ward, Major Projects Sales Manager at Mabey Hire, described the challenge: “Space was extremely limited on site, with existing buildings in close proximity, as well as footpaths and other furniture on both banks. All of this meant that we only had a very small footprint in which to assemble and manoeuvre the bridge.”
Drawing on extensive installation experience, Mabey Hire’s in-house team devised a phased approach. Deliveries were staggered to avoid peak commuting hours, minimising disruption to residents. The bridge was launched in seven meticulously planned stages.
The installation process
The operation began with the assembly of the first 10 bridge bays on the south bank. These were lifted by a 300-tonne mobile crane and positioned onto the south abutment and a pre-constructed river pier. Using a telehandler, additional bays were attached, and the structure was gradually launched across the river, using the pier as a pivot point. Once in place, ramps and pathways were constructed to provide safe and accessible entry points for all pedestrians.
Ward highlighted the adaptability of their approach: “Using our in-house install team’s experience, we were able to adapt to the site conditions and plan accordingly. Thanks to the modular nature of our temporary bridging equipment, we were able to stagger the deliveries to site, ensuring the deliveries took place outside of peak commuting hours. The bridge launch itself was conducted in seven carefully considered stages.”
Collaboration for community benefit
The partnership between Mabey Hire, Balfour Beatty, and Leeds City Council ensured that the temporary bridge was not just functional, but inclusive. Accessibility was a priority, with ramps designed to accommodate prams, wheelchairs, and bicycles.
Barnes praised the outcome: “The team at Mabey Hire were able to design the pedestrian bridge bespoke to our needs and produce different iterations following feedback from the wider team and Leeds City Council. Being such an important piece of infrastructure for the town, it was essential that the temporary structure was accessible for everyone, with Mabey Hire incorporating ramps and pathways into its design.
The installation was successful, with collaboration from Mabey Hire enabling us to quickly and efficiently design, lift and launch the bridge, maintaining pedestrian access across the river.”
Balancing heritage with modern demands
The temporary bridge will remain in place until autumn 2025, by which time the new permanent pedestrian section should be ready for public use. Its installation has not only safeguarded day-to-day connectivity but has also demonstrated how engineering expertise, modular design, and careful planning can preserve community life during essential infrastructure works.
As towns and cities across the UK continue to balance heritage preservation with modern demands, the Otley project offers a blueprint for ensuring that critical repair works don’t come at the expense of community access.
