Over 70 designs unveiled for another new bridge across London's River Thames
Waterfalls, rainbow-coloured latticework and bright red cycle lanes feature among proposals for a new bridge across London's River Thames to rival Thomas Heatherwick's Garden Bridge (+ slideshow).
![Nine Elms bridge designs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Nine-Elms-Southbank-Pimlico-bridge-designs_dezeen_468_4.jpg)
Designs by 74 international architectural and engineering teams were submitted in response to the competition launched by Wandsworth Council in December, which called for a structure to span the Thames between Nine Elms on the south bank and Pimlico on the north bank.
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It will occupy a gap between the existing Vauxhall and Chelsea bridges, providing a new transport link for commuters.
![Nine Elms bridge designs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Nine-Elms-Southbank-Pimlico-London-bridge-design_dezeen_468_0.jpg)
All 74 anonymous proposals are available to view online on the competition website.
![Nine Elms bridge designs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Nine-Elms-Southbank-Pimlico-bridge-designs_dezeen_468_20.jpg)
Many of the concepts show snaking and spiralling ramps to allow accessible ascent and descent from the bridge.
![Nine Elms bridge designs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Nine-Elms-Southbank-Pimlico-bridge-designs_dezeen_468_10.jpg)
Red bicycle paths modelled to look like a racing track are included in one design, while another features looping sides lit by pink spotlights. Irregularly shaped latticework appears to engulf one design in petrol-coloured flames.
![Nine Elms bridge designs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Nine-Elms-Southbank-Pimlico-bridge-designs_dezeen_468_28.jpg)
The Nine Elms bridge will form part of a £1 billion infrastructure plan for the 195-hectare Nine Elms district. A new tube station for the Battersea Power Station redevelopment is also part of the plan, which includes projects by architects Foster + Partners, Frank Gehry and BIG.
![Nine Elms bridge designs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Nine-Elms-Southbank-Pimlico-bridge-designs_dezeen_468_5.jpg)
It is the second new bridge proposed for the Thames, alongside the now-approved Garden Bridge designed by Thomas Heatherwick. This structure, set to be covered in trees and plants, met further controversy last week when a legal challenge was put forward by Michael Ball, former director of the Waterloo Community Development Group.
![Nine Elms bridge designs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Nine-Elms-Southbank-Pimlico-bridge-designs_dezeen_468_22.jpg)
A shortlist of up to four designs will be selected next month by a jury including architect Graham Stirk of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, engineer Henry Bardsley, and council leaders from the London boroughs of Wandsworth and Lambeth. The winning scheme will then move towards a planning application.
![Nine Elms bridge designs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Nine-Elms-Southbank-Pimlico-bridge-designs_dezeen_468_17.jpg)
"We challenged the world's designers to come up with creative solutions to a very complex set of design, engineering and transport challenges," said Wandsworth Council leader Ravi Govindia.
"To succeed this bridge must be two things at once. It must be a beautiful piece of architecture and a valuable new transport link."
![Nine Elms bridge designs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Nine-Elms-Southbank-Pimlico-London-bridge-design_dezeen_468_1.jpg)
The bridge is expected to cost £40 million and carry approximately 9,000 pedestrians and 9,000 cyclists daily. A contribution of £26 million has already been identified.
![Nine Elms bridge designs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/02/Nine-Elms-Southbank-Pimlico-bridge-designs_dezeen_468_14.jpg)
The project is open for public consultation and all 74 proposals will be exhibited at the ROSE Centre in Nine Elms from 27 to 28 February.