Bridge of Don (bridge)
| Bridge of Don | |
|---|---|
 The bridge in 2004 (fifth arch not visible) | |
| Carries | A956 road |
| Crosses | River Don |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Granite |
| Width | 66 feet (20 m) |
| Longest span | 75 feet (23 m) |
| Number of spans | Five |
| History | |
| Construction begin | 1827 |
| Construction end | 1830 |
The Bridge of Don is a five-arch bridge of granite crossing the River Don just above its mouth in Aberdeen, Scotland.
History
In 1605 Alexander Hay executed a Charter of Mortification for the maintenance of the 13th century Brig o' Balgownie further upstream, which later became the Bridge of Don Fund, which financed several bridges in the north-east of Scotland.[1][2] This fund having accumulated a value of over £20,000, the patrons of the fund, the town council, sought an Act of Parliament to permit construction of a new bridge in 1825.[3]
The original design by John Gibb and John Smith was modified by Thomas Telford, and construction work started in 1827.[4] Problems with the foundations meant it had to be partly taken down and have additional piles sunk.[4] It was opened free to the public with no toll in 1830 and later gave its name to the suburb of the city on the north bank.[3][4][5]
It was listed as a Category B listed building in 1967.[4][6]
Design
The bridge has five spans of dressed granite, and rounded cutwaters that carry up to road level to form pedestrian refuges.[4] The spans are 75 feet (23 m), with a rise of 25 feet (7.6 m).[4]
It was widened in 1958-59, from 24 feet (7.3 m), to 66 feet (20 m) by the construction of a new concrete bridge adjacent to the old one.[4][7]
It now carries four lanes of the A956 road, and is the last bridge on the River Don before it meets the sea.[4][8] The bridge is just downstream from a substantial island in the river.[8] Around the area of the bridge is the Donmouth Local Nature Reserve, designated as a LNR in 1992.[9] Near to the bridge are a number of World War II era coastal defences, including a pill box.[10]
References
- ↑ "Brig o'Balgownie". engineering-timelines.com. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ↑ "Aberdeen, Brig o' Balgownie". canmore.rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 House of Commons Papers. H.M. Stationery Office. 1835. p. 35.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "Aberdeen, Bridge of Don". canmore.rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ↑ "Bridge of Don". scottish-places.info. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ↑ "Bridge of Don, King Street. (Ref:20069)". historic-scotland.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ↑ "Major Road Projects". hansard.millbanksystems.com. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Google (16 September 2014). "Bridge of Don". Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ↑ "Donmouth Local Nature Reserve". aberdeencity.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ↑ "Aberdeen, Bridge Of Don, Pill Box". scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
External links
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