Forth Road Bridge facts for kids
The Forth Road Bridge is a very long bridge in Scotland. It crosses a wide river called the Firth of Forth. This bridge connects the city of Edinburgh to a place called Fife. It is a special type of bridge called a suspension bridge. This means its main deck hangs from strong cables.
The Forth Road Bridge carries cars and pedestrians (people walking). It was built in 1963. Nearby, there is another famous bridge called the Forth Rail Bridge. That one was built much earlier, in 1890, and is used by trains. The Forth Road Bridge was designed by an architect named Richard Gilbert Scott.
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Keeping the Bridge Strong
Even though the Forth Road Bridge was built not too long ago, it has needed some big repairs. A report looked into why some important parts called nuts had broken. These nuts help hold the bridge's main cables.
Why Repairs Were Needed
Engineers found that 1,888 similar nuts on the bridge needed to be replaced. These nuts connect 192 'cable bands' to the bridge's main cables.
In the late 1990s, all the nuts and bolts on the cables were replaced. This was part of a big project to change the hanger ropes. But about ten years later, new problems were found. Inspectors saw nine cracked nuts.
Experts studied these problems. They also looked at similar issues on other suspension bridges around the world.
What Caused the Damage
The report found a few reasons for the damage. Sometimes, workers had not put washers on correctly. This could have caused uneven pressure on the nuts. Also, the special coating meant to protect the nuts was not very good. This allowed moisture to get in and cause damage.
Fixing the Bridge
To make the bridge safe, engineers have now replaced all the nuts and bolts that were cracked. This helps keep the Forth Road Bridge strong and safe for everyone who uses it.
Images for kids
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Under construction in July 1962
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An inspection of the integrity of the cables under way on the bridge
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High-tensile wires suspending the deck of the northbound carriageway
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Forth Road Bridge anchorage chamber, north side
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From left to right The Queensferry Crossing, the Forth Road Bridge and the Forth Bridge.
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A driverless bus of the same model that will operate across the Forth Road Bridge by 2021.
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