Flintshire Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flintshire Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 53°13′43″N 3°03′57″W / 53.228738°N 3.065951°W |
| Carries | 4 lanes of A548 |
| Crosses | Dee Estuary |
| Locale | Deeside |
| Official name | Flintshire Bridge |
| Maintained by | Welsh Assembly Government Flintshire County Council |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable-stayed |
| Material | concrete |
| Total length | 294 metres (965 ft) |
| Height | 118 metres (387 ft) |
| Longest span | 200 metres (660 ft) |
| History | |
| Designer | Percy Thomas Partnership |
| Construction begin | 1994 |
| Construction end | 1997 |
| Opened | 6 March 1998 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 13,300 vehicles per day |
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The Flintshire Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a cable-stayed bridge. This means its main deck is held up by strong cables. These cables connect directly from the bridge deck to tall towers. It crosses the Dee Estuary in North Wales.
This impressive bridge connects the towns of Flint and Connah's Quay. It links them to the shore north of the River Dee. This area is at the southern end of the Wirral Peninsula.
Building the Flintshire Bridge cost about £55 million. The money for its construction came from the Welsh Office. The Welsh Office was a government department that handled affairs in Wales. Today, the local council, Flintshire County Council, is expected to take care of its future maintenance.
About the Bridge
The Flintshire Bridge was officially opened in 1998. Queen Elizabeth II herself opened the bridge. It carries part of the A548 road, which is a main route for cars and trucks.
Nickname and Design
Locals sometimes call the bridge 'the bridge to nowhere'. This is a playful nickname, perhaps because it leads to a less populated area. However, it is a vital link for transport.
The Flintshire Bridge is very special. It is the largest asymmetric cable-stayed bridge in all of Britain. 'Asymmetric' means that its design is not perfectly balanced on both sides. This makes it unique and a marvel of engineering.
Gallery
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The bridge shown with Deeside Stadium
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Aerial view
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The tower shown with Connah's Quay Power Station
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Aerial view
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Bridge from afar showing River Dee estuary
Images for kids
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The tower supporting the bridge decking from River Dee
