Newport City footbridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newport City footbridge |
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Newport City footbridge from the east bank
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| 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 just for people walking and cycling. It crosses the River Usk in Newport, a city in South Wales.
This bridge connects the east side of the river, near the Rodney Parade stadium, to University Plaza on the west side. It was a big first step in a plan to make Newport city even better. The bridge has won several awards for its cool design and how it helped improve the area.
Contents
What Makes This Bridge Special?
The Newport City footbridge has two tall, A-shaped towers called masts. These masts hold up the bridge from the west bank of the river. They stand on a shared base and are held firmly to the ground by strong cables.
The front mast is about 262 feet (80 m) long, and the back mast is about 226 feet (69 m) long. Because of how they are angled, the highest point of the bridge is about 229 ft (70 m) above the ground. The part you walk on, called the deck, is 16 ft (4.9 m) wide. At high tide, it's about 13+1⁄2 ft (4.1 m) above the water. The bridge stretches 476 feet (145 m) without any supports in the middle.
Cool Design Ideas
The bridge's unique crane-like shapes were made on purpose. They remind us of the area's past, when it was a busy trading port. But they also look very modern!
Placing the main structures on the west bank was a smart move. This meant most of the building work happened away from houses on the east bank. It also helped protect the local river environment.
How the Bridge is Built
Strong Foundations
The bridge stands on thirty large concrete piles, which are like deep pillars. These piles are about 35+1⁄2 inches (900 mm) wide and go deep into the ground.
The bridge structure is also held by five ground anchors. These anchors are drilled about 98 ft (30 m) into the ground for extra strength. About 600 m3 (780 cu yd) of concrete was used just for the bridge's foundations!
The Tall Masts
The masts are made from thick sheets of steel. These sheets were rolled into big tubes, which were then welded together.
The front mast is 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide and came in nine pieces. It weighs about 275 long tons (279 t), which is super heavy! The back mast is 1.75 m (5.7 ft) wide and came in seven pieces. It weighs around 177 long tons (180 t).
The Bridge Deck
The deck, where people walk and cycle, is made of five main sections. These sections were put in place one by one and then welded together.
Here are some details about the deck sections:
- Deck one and five:
- 79 ft (24 m) long
- 16 ft (4.9 m) wide
- Weighs 19 long tons (19 t)
- Deck two and four:
- 85 ft (26 m) long
- 31.2 ft (9.5 m) wide (at the widest parts)
- Weighs 25 long tons (25 t)
- Deck three:
- 118 ft (36 m) long
- 49 ft (15 m) wide (at the widest parts)
- Weighs 55 long tons (56 t)
The Cables That Hold It All Up
About half a mile (800 metres (2,600 ft)) of strong cable is used to support the bridge. These cables vary in thickness, from 2 inches (51 mm) to 4+3⁄4 inches (120 mm) (50 millimetres (2.0 in) to 120 millimetres (4.7 in)). They were made by a company called Bridon Ropes in Doncaster.
Building the Bridge
The huge masts for the bridge were put up in May 2006. The builders used the largest crane in the UK for this big job!
The Newport City footbridge officially opened on September 12, 2006. This was also the 100th birthday of the famous Newport Transporter Bridge. This footbridge is the ninth bridge to cross the River Usk in the city.
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.
World Record Highwire Walk
As part of Newport's "Big Splash" festival on August 30, 2010, something amazing happened! Olivier Roustan, a 45-year-old circus star from Toulouse, France, performed the highest ever wirewalk in Europe. He walked along the very top cable of the Newport City Footbridge!
Images for kids
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The bridge under construction
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Usk footbridge opening
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Usk footbridge masts
