I have been lucky to be in touch with Robert Cortright (www.bridgeink.com), authour of "Bridging the World" - A 208 page hard bound presentation of 306 colour photographs of bridges from 6 continents.
Commenting on my post about "Pant-y-Goitre Goitre - A Bridge with Holes", he has informed (via e-mail) that besides Pant-y-Goitre Bridge there are other bridges also which have holes. Based on information received from him, here are few more bridges which have been provided with holes so as to reduce pressure/weight on the crown/spandrel. These bridges are;
- Anshun Bridge, Chengdu, China
- Aray Bridge, Inverary, Scotland
- Cenarth Bridge, Wales
- Old Bridge, Pontypridd, Wales
Anshun Bridge, Chengdu, China
Image from Flickr is by bridgink
The Anshun (Meaning "Peaceful and Fluent") Bridge is a bridge on River Jin in Chengdu south-western China. The covered bridge also houses a large restaurant and is a popular eating location in the city. It was constructed in 2003 as a replacement of the old bridge which was destroyed by a flood in the 1980s.
View location in Google Earth Google Maps
Source of Info: Wikipedia
Aray Bridge, Inverary, Scotland
Image from Flickr is by jazzyfox
Image from Flickr is by bridgink (This photo appears in the book "Bridging the World" by Robert Cortright www.bridgeink.com)
The Aray Bridge at the mouth of River Aray at Loch Fyne at Inverary, Scotland was designed by Robert Mylne and built in 1775. It is also known as Inveraray Bridge or Military Bridge.
View location in Google Earth Google Maps
Source of Info: http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk
Cenarth Bridge, Wales
Image from Flickr is by Cats 2007
This bridge across the River Teifi at Cenarth was also designed by William Edwards who had designed the Old Bridge Pontypridd, Wales. Built in 1787 it is still functional today. Its two spandrels are pierced by large circular openings to reduce structural weight and allow floodwater through.
View location in Google Earth Google Maps
Source of info: http://www.coflein.gov.uk
Old Bridge, Pontypridd, Wales
Image from Flickr is by chronologie2
Image from Flickr is by bridgink
This bridge on the river Taff was designed by William Edwards it was the first built in 1746 but within a span of 3 years and after repeated failures the fourth and present bridge was built. The final design of the bridge included three cylindrical holes of 2.7 m (9 ft, 1.7 m (6 ft) and 1.1 m (4 ft) on each side on the bridge so as to reduce the weight and pressure on the crown.
At the time of its construction, the bridge with a span of 42.7 metres (140 feet), was the longest single span bridge in Europe and it may have also been the longest single-span bridge in the world too. However many consider the bridge as a failure, as it was only eleven feet wide between the parapets and so steep that wagons had to use a 'chain and drag' to descend from the crown.
Initially known as Newbridge, it was renamed "Old Bridge" in 1857, after a new bridge (Victoria Bridge) was constructed adjacent to it. It is now used as a pedestrian bridge and is a scheduled ancient monument.
View location in Google Earth Google Maps
Source of info and more info: Wikipedia
Credits: I am thankful to Robert Cortright for furnishing me the names and images of these bridges with holes. I had tried to Google for other bridges, besides pant-y-goitre bridge, which have holes but could not find any other bridge. This post could not have been possible without the information supplied by him.
Not sure if you're still interested but there's another small similar bridge in Abercych near Cenarth as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anonymous for your information. Did you mean Pont Treseli at near by Boncath? I couldn't find the bridge in Abercych.
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