Conwy Suspension Bridge

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Conwy Suspension Bridge.

The Bridge as seen from Conwy Castle, with the modern road bridge to the left and the rail bridge to the right.

Conwy Suspension Bridge was one of the first road suspension bridges in the world. Located in the medieval town of Conwy in Conwy county borough, north Wales, it is now only passable on foot. The bridge is now in the care of the National Trust.

Built by Thomas Telford, the bridge spans the River Conwy next to Conwy Castle, a World Heritage Site. It was completed in 1826 and replaced the ferry at the same point. Telford matched the bridge's supporting towers with the castle's turrets. It is in the same style as one of Telford's other bridges, the Menai Suspension Bridge crossing the Menai Strait. The suspension bridge runs alongside the wrought iron tubular railway bridge built by Robert Stephenson. Until the new bridge was built, Telford's bridge was the only crossing of the river, and therefore the only way to get to the ferry that leaves for Ireland.

Built into the rock on which Conwy Castle stands, it is very close to the castle and very small (only about 2 1/2 metres across). Part of the castle had to be demolished during construction in order for the suspension cables to be anchored into the rock.

The new bridge is not the main route across the River Conwy — the crossing of the River Conwy has always been a problem and today the A55 road goes under the river by tunnel — but is the major way across for local traffic.