Britannia Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

The Britannia bridge across the Menai Straits which separates the Isle of Anglesey from the main land of Wales, was named after a single large rock which provided the only possibility for intermediate support for the new bridge. Britannia bridge marked a significant stage in the development of civil engineering. It took five years to build, at a cost of £601.865. The first stone was laid in May 1846, the first rivet was hammered in on 10th August 1847, and the last of the 2,000,000 rivets (which was painted white, and can still be seen today) was hammered in by Robert Stephenson - Engineer of the Britannia  Bridge. The first train crossed the bridge in March 1850. Britannia bridge was never formally opened, as Queen Victoria decreed that the then Price of Wales (aged 9 years) who had been invited to perform the ceremony, was too young. On 23rd May 1970 the bridge was accidentally set on fire by two boys bird-nesting. The fire tarred wood within. Heat from the fire caused the spans to sag, leading to loss of structural continuity. As the metal cooled, ironwork over the supports split. It was one hundred and twenty years on - and Stephenson's great work had been destroyed. It would never look the same again.The bridge was closed for rebuilding. Fortunately, the then Secretary of State for Wales saw the great importance to this strategic link to Ireland and rebuilding of the bridge was authorised with the proviso that the new design should be strong enough to accommodate a roadway above the railway! A lattice steel arch construction was adopted, and from January 1972 trains were once again able to run through to Holyhead. Five years later work began on the roadway above the railway. The dual bridge was formally reopened by HRH the Prince of Wales in July 1980.