Analysis: River Torrens footbridge in Adelaide cost higher compared with Helix footbridge in Singapore The award-winning Helix footbridge in Singapore, designed by COX Architecture. It's 280m long and cost $69 million to build. ARE South Australians being short changed on the $40.6 million Torrens Footbridge? That's the conclusion of many who have seen Singapore's award winning Helix pedestrian footbridge in Marina Bay. International tourists are flocking to walk the length of the 280 metre long structure, recently voted 14th among the world's Top 20 most amazing bridges. Not even the greatest supporters of the "functional" footbridge across the Torrens - approved as part of the $350 million redevelopment of the Adelaide Convention Centre - expect it to make that list. Inspired by the helical spiral structure of DNA, the Helix bridge was opened in 2010 and won the "World's Best Transport Building" award at the World Architecture Festival Awards the same year. Its design and construction is anything but pedestrian. It features a computer-controlled lighting system to set the mood at night and viewing platforms with stunning panoramas of the city skyline. Steel mesh canopies stretched along steel rods provide shade from the blazing Singapore sun and protection from the frequent tropical downpours. Construction has started on the $40m River Torrens footbridge. In contrast, the Adelaide footbridge will be exposed to the elements, there are no extensive "disco" lights and doubts remain if it will be wide enough to adequately cater for a capacity crowd leaving the revamped Adelaide Oval. So surely the Torrens bridge is cheaper, especially as it is only half as long and not as wide? On a cost-per-metre basis, it is actually more expensive. The 280m-long Helix bridge cost $69 million to build, compared with the $40 million to span the 150m of the Torrens. That's $27,000 less per metre to build the Helix Bridge. And what's more, the spectacular bridge was primarily designed by Australians. The Cox Group, designers of the Sydney Football Stadium, were the lead architects among the international design consortium. Even in a country with no shortage of amazing bridges - Singapore also claimed number 17 on the World's Top 20 list - the Helix stands out as a masterpiece. Critics are saying it also brings into question the $40.6 million cost to cross the River Torrens with what is little more than a concrete slab. COST: $40.6 million (estimated) WIDTH: 8 metres Waterfall feature. TO BE OPENED: December 2013 (estimate) COST: $69 million WIDTH: 10 metres ADDED EXTRAS: Shelter from the elements. Nightly light show. Tourist attraction. AWARDS: Ranked 14th on a list of the World's Best Bridges.