Bridge engineering and civil structures

Buro Happold is a leader in the global bridge engineering market with a strong track record of successfully delivering a breadth of exciting projects

We have highly professional staff with wide ranging experience in construction, who have reached this position through a continuous commitment to work of the highest professional standards, pursuing efficient and innovative design solutions.


Our bridge engineering and civil structures services:

  • Detailed design and structural analysis
  • Masterplanning and feasibility studies
  • Expert advisory role and forensic analysis
  • Design verification and independent checks
  • Temporary works and erection techniques
  • Assessment, rehabilitation and strengthening

Our expertise in specific types of bridge & civil structures:

  • Urban and rural pedestrian and cycle bridges
  • Link bridges and skywalks
  • Landscape and green bridges
  • Moveable bridges
  • Bridges and structures in the railway environment
  • Highway bridges and flyovers
  • Cut and cover tunnels, underpasses and culverts

Any kind of bridge imaginable

Do you have a particular vision for your bridge? Our experts design and supervise the construction of all types, from smaller, architectural footbridges like the Ponte Della Musica in Rome, to major bridge crossings such as the Northern Spire spanning the River Wear.

Working closely with our infrastructure design teams, we have designed and supervised the construction of dozens of bridges, underpasses, cut and cover tunnel and culverts in many countries over the past decade. We provide input into the design of roads and railways, into the viability of major infrastructure projects and their environmental impact.

Continually at the cutting edge

We participate actively in the research and the development of materials, new technology and methods of analysis, in order to develop our core competencies. This equips us to develop innovative design concepts, such as the unique steel framed strengthening mechanism that was pivotal in replacing the roller bearings on the Hammersmith Flyover.

In fact, you will be accessing our in-house integrated bridge design and analysis system, based on 3D parametric modelling. It enables us to make state-of-the-art structural analyses. This was a real benefit in testing the unique design of the award winning Baakenhafen Bridge which uses tidal power to remove a section.

Collaboration and communication are key

We work for public clients, contractors (design-build projects) and private developers. We advocate a close dialogue with our clients in order to optimise the design and the construction process, such as enabling the Stratford Town Centre Link that spans 11 railway lines to be launched over an operational station.