Victoria Bridge, Bath
Encyclopedia
Victoria Bridge in Bath, England was built in 1836 across the River Avon. The bridge has been recognised as a Grade II* listed building.
The bridge is an important example of a cable-stayed bridge
which initially carried horses and carts but later carried cyclists and pedestrians until its closure on safety grounds in 2011.
double cantilever
bridge, built by Motley and Dredge, has a span of 45.7 metres (149.9 ft) with the cables slung from Bath stone
towers. The road deck is joined to the cables by iron rods, which, unusually, are not vertical. James Dredge who was a brewer in Bath designed the bridge to carry beer from his brewery across the river without using a ferry or having to detour through the city centre. Construction cost £1760. He patented the 'Taper principle' based on using chains rather than cables, as is more common in suspension bridge
s. Dredge's bridge design was considered "a very significant yet relatively short-lived phase in suspension bridge development".
The main span chains have 155 links each of which is 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) long and supports two wrought iron hangers. The deck is made of wooden planks.
Initially the bridge was used for horse drawn carts but later only carried bicycles and pedestrians.
Further inspections were carried out by a structural engineer in September 2011.
In November 2011 the tow-path was closed and then the navigation itself was closed to all boats.
Restoration costs have been estimated at £3 million. Emergency work to prop up either side of the bridge and apply temporary strapping took place in November 2011. Further work is planned to create a temporary truss to support the bridge. Details of the full restoration work have not yet been published but it is planned to be completed by the winter of 2013.
The bridge is an important example of a cable-stayed bridge
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
which initially carried horses and carts but later carried cyclists and pedestrians until its closure on safety grounds in 2011.
Construction
The cable-stayedCable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
double cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
bridge, built by Motley and Dredge, has a span of 45.7 metres (149.9 ft) with the cables slung from Bath stone
Bath Stone
Bath Stone is an Oolitic Limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate. Originally obtained from the Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines under Combe Down, Somerset, England, its warm, honey colouring gives the World Heritage City of Bath, England its distinctive appearance...
towers. The road deck is joined to the cables by iron rods, which, unusually, are not vertical. James Dredge who was a brewer in Bath designed the bridge to carry beer from his brewery across the river without using a ferry or having to detour through the city centre. Construction cost £1760. He patented the 'Taper principle' based on using chains rather than cables, as is more common in suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
s. Dredge's bridge design was considered "a very significant yet relatively short-lived phase in suspension bridge development".
The main span chains have 155 links each of which is 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) long and supports two wrought iron hangers. The deck is made of wooden planks.
Initially the bridge was used for horse drawn carts but later only carried bicycles and pedestrians.
Closure
In October 2010 the bridge was closed to users, because of concerns about the safety of the beams and cables. This caused criticism from cycling groups in the city. It was reopened later in October 2010, but then closed again.Further inspections were carried out by a structural engineer in September 2011.
In November 2011 the tow-path was closed and then the navigation itself was closed to all boats.
Restoration costs have been estimated at £3 million. Emergency work to prop up either side of the bridge and apply temporary strapping took place in November 2011. Further work is planned to create a temporary truss to support the bridge. Details of the full restoration work have not yet been published but it is planned to be completed by the winter of 2013.