City Bridge

This article is about the bridge that forms part of the A48. For the footbridge, see Newport City footbridge.

City Bridge^[1] is a crossing of the River Usk, for motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, in the city of Newport, South Wales. It was opened in 2004 as part of the construction/re-generation of the Southern Distributor Road/A48 in Newport.

City Bridge
The City Bridge looking east
Coordinates	51°34′37″N 2°58′27″W
Carries	Motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians
Crosses	River Usk
Locale	Newport
Official name	City Bridge
Maintained by	Morgan Vinci Ltd.
Characteristics
Design	Tied arch bridge
Total length	650 feet (200 m)
Width	Dual two-lane carriageway, two cycle/footpaths
Longest span	613+1⁄2 feet (187.0 m)
History
Opened	17 November 2004
Location

The bridge is the second most-southerly crossing of the River Usk in Newport, lying north of Newport Transporter Bridge.

Design

The City Bridge under construction

The bridge is a bow-string arch design, 650 ft (200 m) long and forms part of the city's Southern Distributor Road (SDR). On completion of the SDR, the A48 road was diverted over the new bridge, making it the preferred route for through traffic.

Between the two top chord pillars the west-bound carriageway of the bridge bears a large emblem of the Arms of Newport City Council.

Recognition

In 2005 the bridge was recognised by the British Constructional Steelwork Association's Structural Steel Design Awards.^[2] The judges said of the bridge: "The Usk crossing symbolises the best in British bridge engineering. It combines an elegant design, high quality fabrication and innovative construction. Newport has gained not only another much-needed river crossing, but has gained an elegant steel structure in the process."^[3]

See also

• List of bridges in Wales