Bridges of 2015

I rarely pass a bridge without pausing to take a photograph unless the situation prohibits it. This has been an exceptionally good year for bridges with a visit to Newport Transporter Bridge (described here) and a trip to Rotterdam, a city generously supplied with river crossings old and new. Other examples were recorded in Oostende, Folkestone, Leeds, Sunderland and Renfrew. Plus Ribblehead Viaduct in North Yorkshire and Lowgill Viaduct in Cumbria.

    De Hef lifting bridge in Rotterdam with the centre section temporarily removed for repairs. It opened for rail traffic in 1927; the designer was Peter Joosting.

Rotterdam - the Koninginnebrug - a double bascule bridge built in 1929.

Erasmusbrug, Rotterdam – cable-stayed and bascule bridge opened in 1996.

Rotterdam - the Lafe Erfbrug near Delfshaven.

Rotterdam – Willemsbrug – cable-stayed bridge completed in 1981.

   Rotterdam - Van Brienenoordbrug where pedestrians are not made welcome but must take their chances on the cycle track. In effect there are two bridges side by side - the first built in 1965, the second in 1990.  

 Lowgill Viaduct in Cumbria - 11 arches, built 1858-59 on the Tebay - Ingleton branch line. Last trains crossed in 1965. Grade II listed.

     White Cart Rolling Lift Bridge at Renfrew. Built in 1923 as a Scherzer Rolling Lift Bascule Bridge and a Grade A listed structure.

    Ribblehead Viaduct in North Yorkshire – 24 arches built by the Midland Railway and opened in 1875. Grade II* listed.

Victorian railway bridges in Globe Road, Leeds.

Newport Transporter Bridge.

    City Bridge - Newport's major road crossing, carrying the A48 over the River Usk. Bow-string arch construction completed in 2004.

  Newport - George Street Bridge (1964), UK's first cable-stayed bridge. Grade II* listed structure.

     Newport – Town Bridge for road traffic in the foreground, Great Western Railway Usk Bridge in the background.

  Sunderland – on the left Wearmouth Bridge, completed in 1929. On the right, Monkwearmouth Railway Bridge, constructed in 1879. Both Grade II listed structures.

Unusual pedestrian bridge over the N34 Belgian coast road.

    Oostende - De Smet De Naeyer Bruggen (1905) - bridge for tram and bus use only.

 Folkestone – Foord Viaduct opened in 1844.

Folkestone Harbour Bridge – swing-bridge section.

Folkestone Harbour Viaduct – opened in 1849.