The new lifting bridge opened in 2012 is as much a sculpture as a river crossing. Instead of being made as short as possible, the two lifting 'bascules' are lightweight and cut at a sharp angle so that they cross as they rise, and resemble the triangular sails of racing yachts when fully in the 'up' position.
The bridge was designed by Wilkinson Eyre, the same company that did the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in Newcastle and the Peace Bridge in Londonderry. Creating a second river crossing has helped relieve congestion on the 1927 Poole bridge, and allows one crossing to be open at all times.