The Celtic Gateway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Celtic Gateway Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 53°18′34″N 4°37′52″W / 53.3095°N 4.6311°W |
| Carries | Pedestrians, Bicycles |
| Crosses | Old Holyhead Harbour, North Wales coastal railway line |
| Locale | Anglesey, Wales,  United Kingdom |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Total length | 160 metres (520 ft) |
| Width | 7 metres (23 ft) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Cimolai |
| Opened | 19 October 2006 |
The Celtic Gateway (which is Porth Celtaidd in Welsh) is a special bridge in Anglesey, Wales. It's made of shiny stainless steel and is just for people walking or riding bikes.
This cool bridge was officially opened on October 19, 2006. A politician named Andrew Davies, who was a Member of the National Assembly for Wales (AM), helped open it.
The main reason for building the Celtic Gateway was to make it easier to get around Holyhead. It connects the town's train station and ferry terminal directly to the town centre. Before this bridge, the journey was much longer and harder.
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Welcome to the Celtic Gateway!
The Celtic Gateway is a fantastic example of modern engineering. It helps thousands of people every year. The bridge makes travel safer and quicker for everyone.
It crosses over the Old Holyhead Harbour and the North Wales coastal railway line. It also goes over a road that used to be part of the A5. This means you don't have to worry about traffic!
Why Was This Bridge Built?
Before the Celtic Gateway, getting from Holyhead's train station or ferry to the town centre was a bit of a challenge. The path was about 830 metres long. It had two steep hills and you had to cross a busy road.
In 1991, another bridge was built that helped a little. It cut the distance to 585 metres and only had one steep hill. But you still had to cross that busy road.
The Celtic Gateway changed everything! It made the journey much shorter, only 280 metres. It has just one gentle slope, and best of all, no roads to cross. This makes it super easy for everyone.
Design and Features
This impressive bridge is about 160 metres long and 7 metres wide. It was built by an Italian company called Cimolai. The bridge has a very modern, "futuristic" look.
One of the best things about the Celtic Gateway is that it's easy for everyone to use. The entire length of the bridge is perfect for wheelchairs and prams. This means everyone can enjoy the journey.
Art on the Bridge
The Celtic Gateway isn't just useful; it's also beautiful! There are several pieces of artwork built into the bridge. These artworks add to its unique charm.
One artwork is called "Sun boats." These are bronze plaques set into the bridge's path. The idea for the sun boat comes from the ancient Celts. They were people who lived in Europe a long time ago and believed the sun traveled across the night sky in a boat.
Another artwork is a series of Venetian Glass mosaics. These colourful mosaics were created by an artist named Gary Drostle. They are called 'Porth Celtaidd - Celtic Gateway'.
