Footbridge over the Highway / Ticino River (CH) - Switzerland

The footbridge, located in an area of exceptional natural beauty, 20 km north of Lugano, in southern Switzerland, allows to cross the highway (A2) and the Ticino River, connecting the two agglomerations of Gorduno and Arbedo-Castione. The commissioning authority wanted to create a new attractive structure above the highway and the large conservation and settlement area of the “Parco Golenale” at the confluence of the Ticino and Moesa rivers. The structure is integrated into the landscape, includes the redesign of pedestrian paths in the floodplain area and pursues the objective of generally improving the attractiveness for non-motorized traffic both for leisure and for functional purposes (“home / school / work”). The significant distance to be covered (270 m), as well as numerous constraints (technical, environmental, economic, etc.) led to the design of a sober structure in patinated steel (Cor-Ten), with lines and shapes, meeting the numerous requirements set. The need to directly connect the walkway with the floodplain area below, finds an answer in the structural concept with a trestle shape and two box beams placed side by side.