The Celtic Gateway
The Celtic Gateway (Welsh: Porth Celtaidd) is a stainless steel pedestrian and cycle bridge located in Anglesey, Wales. Opened on 19 October 2006 by Andrew Davies AM[1] to better connect Holyhead's railway station and ferry terminal with the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists.[2] The distance between the two was originally 830 metres, including two steep inclines and the crossing of a busy road. A 1991 bridge reduced the distance to 585 metres with one steep incline but with the road crossing still needed.[3] The current bridge has one shallow incline and cuts the distance to 280 metres with no roads to cross.
Celtic Gateway Bridge | |
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Coordinates | 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 |
Location | |
Crossing the Old Holyhead Harbour, the North Wales coastal railway line and the A5154 (formerly the end of the A5), this 160-metre-long (520 ft), 7-metre-wide (23 ft) structure was built in the futuristic architectural style by the Italian company Cimolai.[4] The whole length of the bridge is wheelchair and pram accessible. The Gateway is further enhanced by a number of artworks. These include: "Sun boats", a series of bronze plaques which have been built into the bridge paving. The sun boat image is derived from the sun-worshipping Celts who believed it travelled across the night sky in a boat; 'Porth Celtaidd - Celtic Gateway' a series of Venetian Glass mosaic by artist Gary Drostle.
References
- Info from the Holy Island website Archived 18 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- Info on the bridge and site Archived 22 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- Jones, Geraint & Jones Rowlinson, Gwenllian: Anglesey Towns and Villages, page 33. Amberley Publishing, 2015
- Info on the Cimolai website