Vauxhall Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vauxhall Bridge |
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| Carries | 4 lanes of roadway, cyclists, and pedestrians |
| Crosses | River Thames |
| Locale | London |
| Preceded by | Regent Bridge (Old Vauxhall Bridge) 1816–1898 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Material | Steel and granite |
| Total length | 809 feet (247 m) |
| Width | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Number of spans | 5 |
| Piers in water | 4 |
| Clearance below | 39 feet 9 inches (12.1 m) at lowest astronomical tide |
| History | |
| Designer | Sir Alexander Binnie, Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice |
| Opened | 26 May 1906 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 50,533 vehicles (2004) |
Vauxhall Bridge is a strong bridge in central London, made from steel and granite. It crosses the famous River Thames, connecting the areas of Vauxhall on the south side with Westminster on the north side. This important bridge helps people and vehicles travel across the river every day.
Contents
History of Vauxhall Bridge
Vauxhall Bridge opened in 1906. It was built to replace an older bridge, which was part of a big plan to improve the south bank of the River Thames. Even before the first bridge, people used a ferry to cross the river at this spot.
Building the Bridges: A Challenge
Building both the first and second bridges was quite difficult. Engineers and architects had to make many changes to their plans. The first bridge, called Regent Bridge, was special because it was the very first iron bridge built over the Thames.
From Tolls to Public Use
The original Regent Bridge was built by a private company. This meant people had to pay a small fee, called a toll, to cross it. It was like paying to use a special road. But in 1879, the bridge became "public property," meaning the government took it over, and people no longer had to pay to cross.
A Modern Bridge for London
The current Vauxhall Bridge took eight years to build. When it opened, it was the first bridge in London designed to carry trams, which were like electric buses that ran on tracks. Later, it became one of the first two roads in London to have a special lane just for buses.
Today, Vauxhall Bridge is very important for road traffic crossing the Thames. In June 2012, the bridge was part of the special boat parade for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, celebrating her 60 years as queen.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Westminster & Lambeth, 1746. Westminster Bridge, opened in 1740, connects Westminster to Lambeth; Huntley Ferry crosses the river on the site of the future Vauxhall Bridge.
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New Spring Gardens, 1751
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Regent Bridge shortly after opening
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Vauxhall Bridge in 1829
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Vauxhall Bridge and Nine Elms station in 1847
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Diverted outflow of the River Effra into the Thames, beneath Drury's Science
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Pomeroy's Pottery
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Pomeroy's Agriculture
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2009 view of Vauxhall Bridge, from upstream on the south bank
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The SIS Building now dominates the southern end of the bridge
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A slipway on the south bank is used by amphibious buses
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See also
In Spanish: Puente de Vauxhall para niños
