The Adur Ferry Bridge - Shoreham footbridge
The Shoreham footbridge (called The Adur Ferry Bridge) connects from the A259 Shoreham High Street / Brighton Road (opposite the end of East Street) across to Lower Beach Road on Shoreham Beach. It provides a useful link for pedestrians and cuts about 1.5 miles off the alternative route via the main roads.
Contact details: find out when the bridge is opened for river traffic or maintenance is due:
Information about The Adur Ferry Bridge:
See also :
The new bridge
The old footbridge was replaced with a new footbridge, The Adur Ferry Bridge, which was opened to the public by HRH The Duke of Gloucester on 13th November 2013 - see:
Photos: the completed 'Adur Ferry Bridge'
Building the new bridge - videos
YouTube video: Introducing the Adur Ferry Bridge:
YouTube video: Adur Ferry Bridge officially open for business:
History of the footbridge project
The Connect2 bid by Sustrans was launched to transform not just this area, but communities throughout the UK. In total there were 79 proposed schemes trying to win a share of the £50 million lottery grant where Connect2 would make a real difference. Each Connect2 scheme was inspirational in design, but sensitive both to the needs and character of the area. For more information see the:
The Connect2 bid by Sustrans competed with three other organisations for £750,000 towards a new footbridge in Shoreham, a share of the lottery millions. These were the Eden Project, Sherwood Forest and the Black Country Urban Park.
The Connect2 bid by Sustrans would aim to build bridges, foot and cycle paths, and even reinstate a ferry giving people easier and healthier access to their schools, workplaces, shops parks and countryside.
To find out more about the:
Each of the bids were highlighted in programmes on ITV in the week commencing 3rd December 2007. The Connect2 bid by Sustrans was featured on 4th December 2007.
Telephone voting took place between 7th and 10th December 2007. The winner, Connect2 by Sustrans - with more than 40% of the vote, was announced on 12th December 2007.
The aims of the local Shoreham Footbridge Connect2 project:
- to renew the narrow Shoreham footbridge, improving the pedestrian/cycle connections from the beach to the town centre, Shoreham Station and other local destinations including schools
- to enhance people's quality of life and create such a direct and convenient network of routes that walking and cycling will become the natural way of covering many journeys in this area
- to connect to and further enhance the east to west coastal route, which extends as far as Worthing
Name chosen for the new bridge
After a public vote, the new bridge was called The Adur Ferry Bridge. The results were as follows:
- 131 votes: The Adur Ferry Bridge
- 79 votes: The Coronation Bridge
- 64 votes: The De Haura Bridge
- 39 votes: The Jubilee Bridge
- 25 votes: The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Bridge
'People's tribute' to Shoreham's heritage unveiled
A 'people's tribute' to three individuals who have made a major contribution to Shoreham is the centrepiece of a newly-revamped gateway to the beach has been unveiled (November 2018).
Those crossing the Adur Ferry Bridge from the town centre will now be greeted with a bright new welcome as a long-awaited regeneration project for the Riverside car park is complete.
As well as a new cycle path and flower beds, contractors working for Adur District Council have also installed an eye-catching portrait bench.
This focal point, which has been funded by national sustainable transport charity Sustrans, includes three distinctive, life-size local figures cut from sheet steel and installed alongside a simple bench.
Those who feature - King Charles II, silent movie actress Joan Morgan and RNLI volunteer Peter Huxtable - were chosen by the public as the personification of the things that are important to the community.
Councillor Emma Evans, Adur District Council's Executive Member for Environment, said:
“Shoreham has a fascinating past but also an incredibly bright future, so what better way to combine the two than with this fantastic quirky landmark which celebrates those who have helped put the town on the map.
“It's fantastic to see this 'people's tribute' already in place and attracting lots of interest as the focal point of the wider Riverside regeneration.
“I want to thank Sustrans for their involvement and invite as many people as possible to cross over to the beach and see it for themselves.”
Whilst the Adur Ferry Bridge was completed in 2013, the work to transform the southern side of the bridge has been delayed due to access issues as a result of the Environmental Agency's work on the Adur Tidal Walls scheme.
Work on the finishing touches started in September and the five-week project has seen the creation of a new turning area, planting areas, recreational space and access to a hard. It has also involved the installation of the portrait bench, which invites the public to sit or step up into the space and become a part of the portrait group.
The three portrait statues
After the final defeat of the Royalist army at the Battle of Worcester in 1651 King Charles II travelled 610 miles for six weeks, hotly pursued by the Parliamentarians. He travelled along the South Downs down to Shoreham Harbour where he escaped to France. He did not return to Britain until 1660 when he was invited to reclaim the throne. See also:
Joan Morgan was the last star of British silent cinema, working for the famous 'Glasshouse' Studio on Shoreham Beach in the early days of moving pictures. She became the leading actress, being described as “a beautiful British star”.
Having initially joined the Shoreham crew as a volunteer Peter Huxtable devoted 43 years to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), during which time he helped to save 449 lives at sea. In 1991 he became the coxswain of the Shoreham Lifeboat and continued as such until 2011. In 2005 Peter was awarded an MBE.
For more details about the portraits see:
Photo: Cllr Emma Evans with the new portrait bench which is part of a new gateway to Shoreham Beach. The three portraits (left to right): King Charles II, Joan Morgan and Peter Huxtable
Photo: Adur DC has completed works to the south side of the Adur Ferry Bridge in Shoreham
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Page last updated: 02 January 2024