A Bridge Too Far...

[CitroJim]

With the news that the Menai Bridge linking mainland Wales to Anglesey is out of service for a few months due to structural repairs being needed it joins our very own Iron Bridge in Paggers which has been closed to all traffic for conservation work since early July..

Ours, having been built in 1810 and the only iron bridge still carrying a classified road (the B526 - once the A50) is listed as an ancient monument and therefore needs specialist maintenance and refurbishment...

It was due to reopen on the 18th November but this has been put back to the 26th due to finding some structural cracks and nesting pigeons...

Also, all work has to be carefully monitored and approved by English Heritage... I was amazed to learn they are trying to save as much of the old original paint as they can whilst rust removal/proofing and repairs take place...

Currently it's all shrouded in plastic sheeting due to the lead in the paint as they (presumably) needlegun it and repaint using (presumanly) lead paint...

During my run this morning..

And how it looked before being wrapped!

Can't wait to see it again when finished... I'm expecting to see it looking shiny...

[NewcastleFalcon]

Another classic bridge under renovation The Union Chain Bridge over the Tweed at Horncliffe which is the border between England and Scotland at this point. I reckon in its previous state it cold quite easily have coped with walkers and cyclists and maybe the odd horse rider for the next century or two but absolutely no need for it to carry motor traffic at all.

Before the renovation, more than adequate to support one man and his dog!

Checked out what was happening at the Union Chain Bridge, the world's oldest vehicle carrying suspension bridge.

It really is a colossal waste of money from a modern transport infrastructure point of view and that's from someone who regards the bridge as an iconic crossing of the Tweed, and ranks second only to Carter Bar as the best border crossing. Alternative crossings are available and no-one but odd tourist, and cyclists and walkers use it. It connects sparsely populated farmland and country estates on one side with the same on the other.

Its a nice artistic and engineering installation but if such bridges had to to break even with revenues generated by users of the bridge, it would never be renovated and maintained.

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Being a great fan of bridges (and viaducts and tunnels) I like that one Neil

[CitroJim]

Happy to report good progress. The sheeting and scaffolding is now being dismantled and we're getting the first sneak peeks of a nice newly painted and refurbished bridge

Paggers 1810 Iron Bridge

It's looking good...

[NewcastleFalcon]

It would be nice to fill the thread up with the subject of bridges Jim, so here's another from our recent travels.

Richmond Bridge, not the one over the Thames....the one over the River Swale in North Yorkshire. Gorgeous spot, and very decent place for coffee and cake in the renovated old station just by the bridge which houses as well as the lovely open space cafe, a cinema, a brewery, and ice cream maker, and artisan baker, artworks and quirky gifts.

View from the top of the bridge towards Richmond Castle

View from under the Bridge Riverside Path

Regards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

This one is just a monument now. Telford Bridge Gloucester.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Telford Bridge Gloucester.

Came across Telford himself on our recent trip in Langholm Scotland...He was born, raised and apprenticed to a Stonemason round those parts.

Regards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

And at 6.40 in this video a Bailey Bridge that used to be the main way into and out of Gloucester when I first moved here,

[Gibbo2286]

Sorting through my photos there's a bunch I took back in December 1954 on the Suez Canal, they were taken on a Kodak camera which produced black and white but the prints were only about an inch and a quarter square.
Had a play this morning so here's the first. This really was a bridge too far for the ship.

[CitroJim]

Our bridge is almost ready for reopening

As seen on my morning run today...

[NewcastleFalcon]

It's a bow-string girder bridge but where is it?
The first day thread may help

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

A pass on location but it's bloody gorgeous

[Dormouse]

I think it is the rail bridge in Windsor if your clue is correct

[NewcastleFalcon]

I think it is the rail bridge in Windsor if your clue is correct

One of IKB’s efforts. Find out more about it as part of the links to the Architecture the Railways Built programme selected on the first day thread.



Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

As featured on our own "Pickled Egg Quiz" thread, culled from the excellent "The Architecture the Railways Built" as featured in the thread "On TV". Chelfham Viaduct part of the narrow gauge railway which ran from Barnstable to Lynton up until 1935.

The Architecture the Railways Built Series 2 Episode 5 Lynton&Lynmouth Cliff Railway, Lynton&Barnstable Railway Catesby Tunnel/Leipzig station
https://uktvplay.co.uk/shows/the-archit ... 8790179001

Lynton and Barnstable Railway Wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynton_an ... e_Railway/
The last train ran on 29 September 1935. An observer at the time wrote:
Rarely, if ever before, has the closing of a railway aroused such a keen interest as has been awakened throughout the country by the running of the last trains over the narrow gauge Barnstaple-Lynton section of the Southern Railway. This is to be attributed very largely to the unusual character of the line and the magnificent scenery through which it passes.

A small section of the line has been resurrected as covered in the programme

geograph stamped image

REgards Neil