Snøhetta Builds Cantilever Bridge Between Rocks in Upstate New York
The Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta and German structural engineering firm Schlaich Bergermann Partner (SBP) have completed construction of the brand-new Sentry Bridge at Watkins Glen State Park in New York. This new bridge replaced the 118-year-old ageing bridge, which decayed due to rough weather and erosion. The newly built cantilevered bridge restored access to the famous gorge trails leading towards 18 waterfalls and ginormous cliffs in Upstate New York.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS Parks) hired Snøhetta and SBP to build the new Sentry Bridge. A 2022 inspection found that the rock on the southern side was becoming weak and unstable, while the 1908-built stone-and-concrete bridge had started to fall apart. These conditions posed a serious safety and structural threat, prompting the client to retire this century-old bridge.
Since the rock on the southern side became fragile, the design team designed the new Sentry Bridge to be resilient, so it adapts to the fragile cavernous rock walls of the narrow slot canyons. The half-arch design of the new bridge relies on the stronger northern rock wall for primary support, and cantilevers 46 feet toward the weak southern side. The curve of the half-arch slowly disappears into the rock wall, creating a seamless entry point into the canyon cave.
Protecting the environment was one of the major concerns associated with this project. To lessen the impact on the already fragile rock walls, the pedestrian bridge was prefabricated off-site. Once completed, the bridge was installed between the gorges using a crane, which helped reduce the construction time.
The design team used materials such as stainless steel, local stones, wood, and wood-grain textured concrete to build the new bridge. These materials make the bridge appear as a natural extension of the montane forest, instead of an unappealing industrial structure.
The stainless steel gave the bridge a durable, lightweight form with only a 15-ton weight, making it nearly 100 tons lighter than the original bridge. This lightweight design did not put any extra burden on the already weakened rocky caves and walls.
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The designers intentionally chose wood-grain textured concrete to give a lovely rustic finish, mimicking the organic texture of the rock walls. The local stones and black locust wood rails reveal the marks left behind by the builders, honoring the handcrafted process of building the bridge. They also salvaged the stones from the dismantled 1908 bridge to build pathways leading to the new bridge.
The new Sentry Bridge preserves the historic soul of the 1908 bridge by using reclaimed stones, textured concrete, and wood rails in construction. The graceful ageing of these materials will continue to charm visitors for a long time as they admire the framed views of the misty waterfall and the scenic landscape. The construction of the new bridge was completed in July 2026 and is officially open to visitors.
Via: Dezeen
