George Street Bridge, Newport

George Street Bridge is a crossing of the River Usk in the community of Victoria in Newport, South Wales. It is a Grade II* listed structure.[1]

George Street Bridge
George Street Bridge as seen from the promenade at Powell's Town Wharf on the west bank
Coordinates51.5842°N 2.9844°W / 51.5842; -2.9844
CarriesMotor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians
CrossesRiver Usk
LocaleNewport
Official nameGeorge Street Bridge
Maintained byNewport City Council
Characteristics
DesignCable-stayed bridge
WidthFour-lane carriageway, two cycle/footpaths (total 84 feet / 25½ metres)
Height171 feet (52 metres)
Longest span500 feet (150 metres)
History
Constructed byMott, Hay & Anderson
Construction start1962
Opened9 April 1964
Location

Opening

It was opened on 9 April 1964 and is the first cable-stayed bridge in the United Kingdom.

Before its opening in 1964 the only crossings of the river Usk in central Newport were the Newport Bridge carrying the main A48 road and Newport Transporter Bridge.

Many grand names were proposed for the bridge but it was eventually named after the relatively small George Street on the western bank of the River Usk.

Planning

Originally the bridge was planned to be six lanes wide, but with the M4 motorway Usk bridge already planned further upstream it was reduced to four lanes.

Continuing developments

On completion, the A48 route was diverted over the new bridge, making it the preferred route for through traffic. However, in 2004 the new City Bridge on the Southern Distributor Road further downstream became the preferred route and assumed the route number.

See also

References

  1. "George Street Bridge, Victoria". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
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