Landmark bridge formally opens in Moulsecoomb

Meeting on the bridge deck, representatives from the three organisations, alongside contractors Beaver Bridges and WSP, joined together to officially declare the bridge open.

The landmark structure, which weighs the same as 15 double decker buses, runs between Saunders Park View on the west side of Lewes Road and Natal Road on the east, providing a simple, fast, and safe link over the busy traffic below.

The bridge is designed to help bring together the communities on either side of the Lewes Road, including locals and staff and students of the university's Moulsecoomb campus. It provides an impressive new gateway to the city, whilst at the same time providing a safe high-level crossing which is designed to keep traffic on the Lewes Road moving.

Opening of new Moulsecoomb bridge

The bridge is fully open to the public including dismounted cyclists who can make use of specially designed ‘cycle gutters’ mounted on each of the two staircases. A lift provides access to the raised, western end of the bridge deck for those unable to use the stairs.

Commenting on the launch, Professor Debra Humphris, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Brighton said: "The bridge is a fantastic addition and helps to move us one step closer to being a fully-accessible campus, I’m delighted that as well as helping to connect the two sides of our Moulsecoomb campus, the bridge will also provide a valuable asset than can be used by our local community.”

Rob Sloper, Development Director at U+I said: “The opening of the Lewes Road Bridge is an important milestone in the development work we are doing here in partnership with the University of Brighton and Brighton & Hove City Council. It has been designed to better connect the communities in Moulsecoomb, whilst creating a beautiful gateway into a city that we have absolutely loved working in over the years. The bridge, designed by Hassell architects, is a great example of the power of partnership between the university, council and U+I and we look forward to seeing all aspects of the Big Build and Preston Barracks completed and this part of the city buzzing with life.”

Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council said: “It is inspiring to see this beautiful bridge completed, creating an exciting new landmark and gateway to the city, helping to link communities in the Moulsecoomb area. The Big Build and Preston Barracks developments have created state of the art new facilities which we can be proud of, as well as hundreds of new jobs and millions of pounds of economic investment into the city.”

The £200 million development project at Moulsecoomb is transforming the university’s Moulsecoomb campus, reviving the derelict Preston Barracks, once owned by the Ministry of Defence, and establishing the Lewes Road area as a thriving new academic and economic corridor in Brighton. The development will create over 1,500 jobs and inject more than £280 million into the local economy over the next ten years. Amongst other uses, it will deliver 369 new homes, including affordable housing, a 53,000 sq ft innovation hub and over 1,300 student bedrooms in managed halls of residence, meeting a widely recognised shortfall in the city, as well as a new home for the university’s School of Business and Law.