England turns old fishing nets into a 16-metre, low-carbon footbridge

The project used modular blocks, which mostly can be placed by hand, instead of traditional reinforced-concrete retaining walls. The blocks fit together like a Lego system, with little or no mortar needed. Old fishing nets seldom find a second life. But in Kent, England, the nets are being turned into something much more ambitious. The used nets have been transformed to make a 16-metre-long footbridge to carry people over a marina entrance with minimal environmental impact during construction. Media reports from 2024 say that the Environment Agency built an innovative bridge at Twyford Marina in Yalding using recycled materials, lightweight engineering, and a construction method to reduce the amount of concrete used. The 16-metre bridge is part of the Medway Valley Walk and offers pedestrians a new route across the entrance to Twyford Marina. It also makes it easier for boats to enter and leave the marina. The bridge deck and main structure are made of fibre-reinforced polymer, or FRP, from recycled old fishing nets. The material is a blend of strength and light weight and is particularly useful in a challenging construction location. According to reports, the completed bridge is m...