Canary Wharf Crossrail / Adams Plaza Bridge

[TheNewNo2]

As you may be aware, the first stage of Crossrail's station at Canary Wharf opened recently, including the Eden Project style roof garden. As part of it, they've built a bridge to the building from North Collonade, the road on the north side of 1 Canada Square. Here are a few photos:






Now, I don't understand this bridge, on quite a number of levels it seems really badly designed. For instance:

• It's dark.
• It's rather low-ceilinged and feels pretty claustrophobic (see photo 3).
• The opening at the Crossrail end is significantly larger than the bridge itself (see photo 4).
• You can either use the bridge, in which case you're out in the elements crossing North Collonade; or you go the level below, in which case you're protected crossing North Collonade, but then in the open crossing the plaza. If it rains, you will get wet.

Does anyone know why someone would design such a weird bridge, and not provide enclosed access at any level?

 

[edwin_m]

Second photo suggests it doesn't quite line up with the pedestrian crossing either.

Is there a link somewhere else into the existing underground shopping complex?

 

[Tobbes]

On the road side there are steps down to the underground shopping centre, but it isn't direct.

 

[TheNewNo2]

Is there a link somewhere else into the existing underground shopping complex?

I don't think so. The shopping centre's lowest floor is the same level as the first photo was taken from, and the station effectively has a moat, bridged only by this bridge and a road to the east.

 

[FOH]

I don't think so. The shopping centre's lowest floor is the same level as the first photo was taken from, and the station effectively has a moat, bridged only by this bridge and a road to the east.

I might be wrong but I think I accessed the restaurants directly from dockside which I think is the same level as the main shopping centre level.

 

[swt_passenger]

I think it will also eventually line up with another bridge that will continue the route over to the north, towards Poplar DLR?

 

[Clip]

I think it will also eventually line up with another bridge that will continue the route over to the north, towards Poplar DLR?

I passed through poplar the other day and I cant see where that bridge would come out of - theres nothing in the new station to suggest there is room anymore.

 

[fgwrich]

Does anyone else feel something very 1980s about that bridge? Not so 2014 London than 1984 LA Airport?

I Agree with you on the low height of the ceiling though!

 

[Cletus]

Does anyone else feel something very 1980s about that bridge? Not so 2014 London than 1984 LA Airport?

Something out of one of the Star Wars films? Can't quite remember what though.

 

[monsento]

i agree the extension to the dlr seems likely looking at the land left available, it is however very well lit at night, otherwise i agree with all the op points, b-

 

[Taunton]

I do find the design of the station notably poor, although no doubt it will win all sorts of architectural awards despite this.

If nothing else, where the footbridge meets the road (picture 2) it needs a railing along the road to stop children etc running straight out.

Now the shops are open in the new station structure, the vast majority access them from the Canary Wharf shopping centre level, by the open ground level route (picture 1, out of the doors between the footbridge and the steps) and not by the higher level footbridge, which in contrast to the open route is pretty well unused. The pedestrian pavement along the north side of North Colonnade is little used.

The absence of a footbridge from the other side of the station building to Poplar DLR station is just ludicrous. The big footbridge across the DLR station already points straight at the Crossrail station. If this new footbridge was picked up with a crane and put down on the other side to connect the two, it would be 100 times more useful.

The "Eden Project" top floor has stupidly narrow footpaths winding between the plants. Two prams in opposite directions cannot pass each other.

 

[transmanche]

When I saw this picture (taken from West India Quay DLR, dated Jan 2014) I presumed the 'gap' in the lattice work is where the bridge from the Crossrail station to Poplar DLR would 'plug in'.

AFAIUI, the primary interchange between Crossrail and DLR will be via Poplar DLR station, which is closer than Canary Wharf DLR station.


IMGP1644 by Matt Buck, on Flickr

 

[WestCountry]

The absence of a footbridge from the other side of the station building to Poplar DLR station is just ludicrous. The big footbridge across the DLR station already points straight at the Crossrail station. If this new footbridge was picked up with a crane and put down on the other side to connect the two, it would be 100 times more useful.

There will be one, as part of the new development on the area in the middle.

 

[BantamMenace]

There will be one, as part of the new development on the area in the middle.

Does anyone know what the development will be? Is it office space or a shopping complex?

 

[JaJaWa]

Here's an image I took at the start of June of the bridge to Poplar DLR under construction. It's probably progressed since.

 

[route:oxford]

It reminds me of a Washington DC metro unit...