Fresh plaudits for Gull Wing bridge at awards ceremony

Lowestoft's landmark Gull Wing bridge is Highly Commended at a top engineering awards night.
Published: 11 Jun 2025

Congratulations to all involved with Suffolk's iconic Gull Wing bridge in Lowestoft, which has been recognised once again at a prestigious national awards ceremony.

It was 'Highly Commended' at the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) awards held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London in front of an audience of 450 industry professionals.

Five men in evening dress holding the Highly Commended certificate in front of a CIHT backdrop.
Andrew Cook, left, and Gull Wing project director Simon Bretherton with Neil Barnes from Farrans construction, and Conor Lavery and Joan Valls-Mestre of Arup.

The bridge had been nominated in the CIHT Infrastructure Award, which recognises exceptional engineering solutions that have delivered creative and resilient infrastructure.

However the bridge was pipped to top spot by Belfast Grand Central Station.The Herring bridge in Great Yarmouth was 'Commended' in the same category.

The 'Highly Commended' certificate was presented to Andrew Cook, Executive Director for Growth, Highways and Infrastructure at SCC, and Gull Wing bridge project director Simin Bretherton, along with colleagues from bridge designers Arup.

Andrew  said: "The new Gull Wing crossing has been transformative for Lowestoft since it opened last September and is a critical enabler and catalyst for future growth and regeneration.

"This recognition by CIHT is a fantastic reward for everyone at Suffolk County Council who contributed to the success of the Gull Wing from planning and design through to construction and commissioning."

The bridge is the world’s largest rolling bascule bridge operated by hydraulic cylinders.

It spans Lake Lothing and opened to the public on September 7, 2024, being officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal on November 19.

Costing around £146 million the bridge, delivered by Suffolk County Council with Farrans Construction as the main contractor, has significantly reduced congestion and improved connectivity between the northern and southern parts of the town.

Spanning 345 meters in total, the bridge features a main bascule span that is 39.5 meters long, 22 meters wide, and 35 meters tall.

When raised, it offers a 12-meter clearance above high tide, accommodating marine vessels up to 32 meters wide.