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Collection by Tim Newcomb

Bridges We Love

Cables and abutments went fancy for a distinct purpose: to convey passersby—not folks whizzing past on vehicles—with personality. Here’s a selection of bridges that are anything but pedestrian.

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Kurilpa Bridge Brisbane, Australia Arup 1,541 feet The slew of cables and tubes isn’t just a seemingly random array of mastlike visuals, but instead it functions as the tension-supported cable-stay system hoisting the steel bridge over the Brisbane River. The bridge features viewing platforms, all-weather canopies, and ever-changing LED mood lighting. A purple bridge, anyone?
Kurilpa Bridge Brisbane, Australia Arup 1,541 feet The slew of cables and tubes isn’t just a seemingly random array of mastlike visuals, but instead it functions as the tension-supported cable-stay system hoisting the steel bridge over the Brisbane River. The bridge features viewing platforms, all-weather canopies, and ever-changing LED mood lighting. A purple bridge, anyone?
Te Rewa Rewa Bridge New Plymouth, New Zealand Novare Design 285 feet The graceful Te Rewa Rewa span over the Waiwhakaiho River presents visitors with a sense of transformation as they cross through the gateway to the sacred land of the local Maori tribe. The white steel ribs form an arch, artistically symbolizing the path of the wind while also framing Mount Taranaki.
Te Rewa Rewa Bridge New Plymouth, New Zealand Novare Design 285 feet The graceful Te Rewa Rewa span over the Waiwhakaiho River presents visitors with a sense of transformation as they cross through the gateway to the sacred land of the local Maori tribe. The white steel ribs form an arch, artistically symbolizing the path of the wind while also framing Mount Taranaki.
Harbor Drive San Diego, California Safdie Rabines Architects 550 feet This skeletal, sculptural structure in downtown San Diego connects trolley tracks to Petco Park. Visitors are enticed to the walkway by a glass elevator tower, which showcases the elevator’s inner workings as it ascends to the steel-and-concrete bridge. The curve of the crossing, along with the bridge’s iconic spear, ensures varying visual interest from all sides—even from below.
Harbor Drive San Diego, California Safdie Rabines Architects 550 feet This skeletal, sculptural structure in downtown San Diego connects trolley tracks to Petco Park. Visitors are enticed to the walkway by a glass elevator tower, which showcases the elevator’s inner workings as it ascends to the steel-and-concrete bridge. The curve of the crossing, along with the bridge’s iconic spear, ensures varying visual interest from all sides—even from below.
Canoe Bridge Vancouver, British Columbia PWL Partnership 131 feet Vancouver’s Olympic Village melds a modern, urban vibe with a working edge, reminiscent of the site’s past. The Canoe Bridge meshes too, its true-to-life canoe form offering a modernly smooth yet ruggedly distinct design that both contrasts with and complements the seawall walking path.
Canoe Bridge Vancouver, British Columbia PWL Partnership 131 feet Vancouver’s Olympic Village melds a modern, urban vibe with a working edge, reminiscent of the site’s past. The Canoe Bridge meshes too, its true-to-life canoe form offering a modernly smooth yet ruggedly distinct design that both contrasts with and complements the seawall walking path.