M4 motorway Usk bridge facts for kids
The M4 motorway Usk bridge, officially called St. Julians Bridge, is a very important bridge in the city of Newport, Wales. It carries the M4 motorway, which is a major highway, across the River Usk. This bridge helps thousands of cars and trucks travel across Wales every day.
The M4 Usk Bridge: A Key Crossing
The M4 Usk bridge is actually made of two separate structures. One bridge carries traffic heading east, and the other carries traffic heading west. Each of these bridges is about 450 feet (137 meters) long. They are built to handle a lot of vehicles safely.
When you travel west on the M4, these bridges lead directly into the Brynglas Tunnels. These tunnels are also quite long, stretching about 1,200 feet (366 meters).
Building a Big Bridge
Work on the M4 Usk bridge began on September 10, 1962. This was just two months after construction started on the George Street Bridge, which is further down the river.
The entire section of the M4 motorway that goes around Newport, known as the Newport bypass, opened in 1967. This bypass includes the Usk bridge and connects junctions 24 to 28 of the motorway.
Connecting More Roads
Later, in 1989, two more crossings were added to the bridge. These new parts helped connect the M4 motorway to a new junction, called junction 25a. They also linked the motorway to the A4042 road, making it easier for drivers to get to different places.
