Lune Millennium Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lune Millennium Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 54°03′09″N 2°48′09″W / 54.05250°N 2.80244°W grid reference SD474621 |
| Carries | Pedestrians & cyclists |
| Crosses | River Lune |
| Locale | Lancashire, England |
| Maintained by | City of Lancaster |
| Preceded by | Greyhound Bridge |
| Followed by | Carlisle Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Structural steel cable-stayed bridge |
| Total length | 140 metres (460 ft) |
| Width | 4 metres (13 ft) |
| Height | 40 metres (130 ft) |
| Longest span | 64 metres (210 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | February 2001 |
The Lune Millennium Bridge is a special bridge in Lancaster, England. It's a footbridge, which means it's for people walking and cycling. This bridge crosses over the River Lune. It's called a cable-stayed bridge because it uses strong cables to hold up the main part of the bridge.
Contents
Building the Bridge
Why the Bridge Was Built
The Lune Millennium Bridge was built to celebrate the year 2000. This year marked the start of a new millennium, which is a period of 1,000 years. The bridge cost about £1.8 million to build.
Who Designed and Built It
The bridge was designed by a company called Whitby Bird and Partners. It opened in February 2001.
How the Bridge Looks
The bridge has a unique "Y" shape when you look at it from above. This shape helps it connect to different parts of the riverbank. It links one side of the river to a raised walkway and a nearby dock. The bridge also has two tall towers, called pylons. These pylons are about 40 metres (131 feet) high. They are designed to remind people of the tall masts on ships that used to use the dock. The main path for walking and cycling is just over 30 metres (98 feet) long.
Connecting Paths and Awards
Part of the National Cycle Network
The Lune Millennium Bridge is an important part of the National Cycle Network. This is a huge network of paths across the UK for cyclists and walkers. The bridge connects many local cycle paths. For example, it links paths that go to places like Morecambe, Caton, and Glasson Dock. It is part of Route 6 of the National Cycle Network.
Awards for Its Design
The bridge's design has won several awards. In 2005, it received the Sustrans National Cycle Network Award for Excellence. Sustrans is a charity that works to make it easier for people to walk and cycle. The bridge was also praised in the Civic Trust Awards in 2003. These awards celebrate great architecture and public spaces.
A Historic Location
The bridge is built in a place that has a lot of history. It's very close to where an old bridge, called the Old Loyne Bridge, used to stand. This shows how important this spot has been for crossing the River Lune for a long time.
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West side of bridge, with Ashton Memorial on skyline
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East side of bridge
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View at sunset taken from the south bank
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Seen from the east
External Links
- Find out more about the Lune Millennium Bridge
- See an animation of how the bridge moves.
- Look at photos taken during the bridge's construction.
- Visit the designer's website
