McCann to build new Waterside Bridge, a Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge, over the River Trent in Nottingham, opening in 2026
Nottingham-based Electrical and Civil Engineering construction company McCann has been named as one of the contractors teaming up with lead delivery partner Balfour Beatty to build the new Waterside Bridge, a Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge, over the River Trent on behalf of Nottingham City Council. This is the first bridge to be built over the Trent in over 60 years.
The new Waterside Bridge will provide safer cycling and pedestrian commuter and leisure routes.
Connecting the regenerated Trent Basin area, home to approximately 350 apartments and houses, and new schools, and the south side of the river, home to key Nottingham Landmarks; the City Ground, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Holme Pierrepont and Nottingham Rugby Club.
McCann has recently been awarded Civil Engineering works on both sides of the river, comprising temporary and permanent elements.
The enabling works include site clearance and surfacing works to install temporary access roads, carparks, welfare centres, and laydown areas for materials as well as installation of site entrances, boundary fencing and basin wall edge protection systems, as well as the installation of temporary site utilities (water pipes, and electric ducting). The works also include the temporary construction of crane lifting and piling platforms, for the north, south, and east abutments, to ensure the site is ready for the main construction phase to run smoothly and to plan.
The main scope of our work for the Nottingham Footbridge project covers permanent elements, including:
Drainage & Ducting – The supply and installation of all drainage and ducting, including all associated excavation and backfilling, drainage chambers, gullies, access covers, jetting and CCTV surveys, and connections to existing drainage. The south side embankment also includes a new water main diversion due to the location of the new bridge footings.
Works will further include the installation of service ducting, DNO supply, chambers and private supply ducting for illuminated signs and lighting.
Earthworks – Excavation and backfill for pile caps construction, including breakdown of pile heads. All works associated with the supply and installation of a reinforced embankment for the South side.
Kerbing and Paving – Supply and installation of paving, including subbases, mixing and laying of bedding materials, joints, sealing, cuts, interfaces with all construction and other paving.
Paving types include asphalt with high-friction surfacing, concrete block paving, stone fleck paving, corduroy paving and edging kerbs. All of which is matched to the paving used in the existing Trent Basin housing area.
Pre-cast Units – Supply and installation of all structural concrete units, including the amphitheatre foundation slabs, concrete planters, block steps, steps, and L-walls, and the west ramp pre-cast reinforced concrete structures.
This includes, but is not limited to, associate works covering stitching and jointing of precast units, waterproofing to buried surfaces, protection to exposed surfaces, blinding and backing concrete, mortar bed and weepholes.
Traffic Signs – Supply and installation of signage which shows the route is for use by pedal cycles and pedestrians only.
Lighting and CCTV – Supply and installation of all raise and lower lighting columns, illuminated bollards, and CCTV. Works comprise foundations, columns and luminaires or cameras, sockets, cabling and fittings, ducting and chambers, conduit, and all testing and commissioning.
Feeder pillar installation, which includes all foundations, enclosure and all internal fittings and equipment, cabling and fittings, earthing, ducting and chambers, testing and commissioning.
Landscaping – Our scope of work includes some minor soft and hard landscaping elements, which include concrete bases for litter bins, installation of timber slab benches on the pre-cast units, and topsoiling to landscaped areas such as the amphitheatre planters.
We are proud to be part of this landmark project, in the very city we call home.
This new 85-metre-long Waterside Bridge will add a vital new link to Nottingham’s cycle and pedestrian network once opened in Spring 2026.
