Newport City footbridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newport City footbridge
Newport City footbridge from the east bank
Carries	cyclists and pedestrians
Crosses	River Usk
Locale	Newport
Official name	Newport City footbridge
Maintained by	Newport City Council
Characteristics
Design	Cable-stayed bridge
Width	Deck 16 feet (4.9 m) Max. 49 feet (15 m)
Clearance below	13+1⁄2 feet (4.1 m) at high tide
History
Opened	12 September 2006

The Newport City footbridge is a special bridge for people and bikes in Newport, South Wales. It crosses the River Usk, connecting the east and west sides of the city. This bridge was a big part of making Newport a more modern and exciting place.

The bridge connects the area near Rodney Parade stadium to University Plaza. It was one of the first big projects to help improve the city. The Newport City footbridge has won several awards for its amazing design and for helping to make the city better.

Building a Modern Bridge

The Newport City footbridge is a Cable-stayed bridge. This means it uses strong cables to hold up the bridge deck. It has two tall, A-shaped towers, called masts, that stand on the west side of the river. These masts are like giant arms holding the bridge up.

• The front mast is about 80 meters (262 feet) long.
• The back mast is about 69 meters (226 feet) long.
• The bridge deck is about 5 meters (16 feet) wide.
• It sits about 4 meters (13.5 feet) above the water when the tide is high.
• The main part of the bridge that spans the river is about 145 meters (476 feet) long.

Many different companies worked together to build this bridge:

• Contractors: Alfred McAlpine
• Architect: Grimshaw
• Structural Engineer: Atkins
• Steel Fabricators: Rowecord Engineering

Why the Bridge Looks That Way

The bridge's unique design, with its tall crane-like structures, is a nod to Newport's history. This area used to be busy with trading ships and wharves. The modern design reminds people of that past, but in a new way.

Placing the main structures on the west bank was a smart idea. It kept most of the building work away from homes on the east bank. It also helped protect the local river environment.

How the Bridge Stands Strong

The bridge needs very strong foundations to hold its weight.

• Its foundations are supported by thirty large piles, which are like giant stilts.
• These piles are about 90 centimeters (35.5 inches) wide.
• The bridge is also held by five ground anchors. These anchors are drilled deep into the ground, about 30 meters (98 feet) down.
• About 600 cubic meters (785 cubic yards) of concrete were used for the foundations. That's a lot of concrete!

The Tall Masts

The two A-shaped masts are made from strong steel sheets. These sheets were rolled into large tubes and then welded together.

• The front mast is about 2.5 meters (8 feet) wide. It was brought to the site in nine pieces. This mast weighs about 275 metric tons (606,000 pounds)!
• The back mast is about 1.75 meters (5.7 feet) wide. It came in seven pieces and weighs about 177 metric tons (390,000 pounds).

The Bridge Deck Sections

The part of the bridge you walk or cycle on is called the deck. It was built in five sections. These sections were put into place one by one and then welded together.

• Deck sections one and five:
  • About 24 meters (79 feet) long
  • About 5 meters (16 feet) wide
  • Weigh about 19 metric tons (42,000 pounds)
• Deck sections two and four:
  • About 26 meters (85 feet) long
  • About 9.5 meters (31.2 feet) wide (at the widest parts)
  • Weigh about 25 metric tons (55,000 pounds)
• Deck section three (the middle part):
  • About 36 meters (118 feet) long
  • About 15 meters (49 feet) wide (at the widest parts)
  • Weigh about 55 metric tons (121,000 pounds)

The Cables That Hold It All

The bridge is supported by a lot of strong cables.

• About 800 meters (half a mile) of cable are used.
• These cables vary in thickness, from 50 millimeters (2 inches) to 120 millimeters (4.75 inches).
• They were made by Bridon Ropes in Doncaster.

Building and Opening the Bridge

The main masts were put up in May 2006. The builders used the largest crane in the UK for this huge task!

The Newport City footbridge officially opened on September 12, 2006. This was a special day because it was also the 100th birthday of the Newport Transporter Bridge. The footbridge is the ninth bridge to cross the River Usk in Newport.

Fun Facts About the Bridge

• The tallest point of the masts is about 70 meters (229 feet) high.
• The total weight of the masts is about 836 metric tons (1.8 million pounds).
• The railings along the bridge are made from almost 3 kilometers (2 miles) of stainless steel wire.
• The bridge deck has 178 lights, 89 on each side, to light up the path at night.
• The masts and their bases are lit up by 36 floodlights and up-lighters, making the bridge glow after dark.

A World Record Walk

On August 30, 2010, something amazing happened at the bridge! A French circus performer named Olivier Roustan, from Toulouse, walked across the highest cable of the Newport City Footbridge. This was part of the city's "Big Splash" festival. His walk was the highest wirewalk ever done in Europe!

Fun Facts About the Bridge

• The highest point of the masts is 229 ft (70 m).
• The total weight of the masts is 836 long tons (849 t).
• The railings along the bridge are made from almost two miles (3 kilometres (1.9 mi)) of shiny stainless steel wire.
• The bridge deck has 178 lights, 89 on each side, to light up the path at night.
• The masts and their bases are lit up by 36 floodlights and up-lighters, making them glow after dark.

See also

• List of bridges in Wales