SH5371 : Menai bridges
taken 11 years ago, near to Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll, Isle of Anglesey/Sir Ynys Mon, Wales
Opened on 5 March 1850, the original Britannia Bridge (Pont Britannia in Welsh) was designed by Robert Stephenson as a railway bridge, consisting of parallel wrought iron tubes supported by the stone towers.
On 23 May 1970, a fire broke out in the tube at the mainland end, spreading across the whole bridge and making the tubes unsafe. It was subsequently rebuilt in its current form, as a two-decked arched bridge, retaining the original piers. The lower deck, carrying the railway (now single track), was opened on 30 January 1972, although the upper deck, carrying a wide single carriageway A55, did not open until 1980.
Grade II listed (and retaining the status, despite the rebuilding, because of the bridge piers) - see Link.
Designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826, it was the only road link between Anglesey and the mainland (and an essential component of the London - Holyhead route, with its onward links to Ireland) until the completion of the road deck on the nearby Pont Britannia in 1980. One requirement was that it should have sufficient clearance above the water to allow high masted Royal Navy ships to pass through at high tide.
The towers were built of limestone from which were suspended 16 wrought iron chains cables. Over the years it has undergone various changes to be able to handle greater loads, including the replacement of the chain cables with steel ones in 1938-40.
Although long distance traffic now uses the Pont Britannia, the bridge still serves an important role in linking Menai Bridge with Bangor.
Grade I listed - see Link.