George Street Bridge, Newport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Street Bridge |
|
|---|---|
George Street Bridge as seen from the promenade at Powell's Town Wharf on the west bank
|
|
| Coordinates | 51°35′03″N 2°59′04″W / 51.5842°N 2.9844°W |
| Carries | Motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians |
| Crosses | River Usk |
| Locale | Newport |
| Official name | George Street Bridge |
| Maintained by | Newport City Council |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable-stayed bridge |
| Width | Four-lane carriageway, two cycle/footpaths (total 84 feet / 25½ metres) |
| Height | 171 feet (52 metres) |
| Longest span | 500 feet (150 metres) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Mott, Hay & Anderson |
| Construction begin | 1962 |
| Opened | 9 April 1964 |
The George Street Bridge is an important crossing over the River Usk in Newport, South Wales. It connects different parts of the city. This bridge is also a special "Grade II* listed structure." This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
Building a New Bridge
The George Street Bridge officially opened on April 9, 1964. It was a really big deal because it was the very first cable-stayed bridge in the whole United Kingdom. A cable-stayed bridge uses strong cables connected from tall towers to support the bridge deck. This design helps it span long distances.
Before this bridge was built, there were only two other main road crossings over the River Usk in central Newport. These were the Newport Town Bridge and the Newport Transporter Bridge. The new George Street Bridge made it much easier for people and cars to get around.
How the Bridge Got Its Name
When the bridge was being planned, people suggested many fancy names for it. But in the end, it was named after a much smaller street called George Street. This street is located on the western side of the River Usk.
Planning the Bridge's Design
When engineers first started planning the George Street Bridge, they thought it would have six lanes for traffic. However, another big bridge, the M4 motorway Usk bridge, was also being planned further up the river. Because of this, the George Street Bridge was redesigned to have four lanes instead.
Changes Over Time
Once the George Street Bridge was finished, a major road called the A48 was rerouted to go over it. This made the George Street Bridge the main way for traffic to travel through Newport.
However, things changed again in 2004. A new bridge called the City Bridge was built further downstream. This new bridge became the preferred route for the A48 road, taking some of the traffic away from the George Street Bridge.
See Also
- List of bridges in Wales
