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Gunthorpe Bridge
Bridge in Nottinghamshire, England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Gunthorpe Bridge refers two crossings across the River Trent at Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire. The first cast-iron bridge was built in the Victorian era using a Local Act of Parliament. However due to its weak load limit, the advent of heavier motor vehicles resulted in a replacement crossing being built further upstream in the 1920s.
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Original bridge
Until 1875, the only way to cross the River Trent at this point was to use a ferry or ford. This was limiting commerce in the area so the Brititish Parliamnet agreed that a permanent crossing was required. The Gunthorpe Bridge Company was formed following the passing of the Gunthorpe Bridge Act 1870 (33 & 34 Vict. c. xxxii). Capital of £7,500 (equivalent to $910,000 in 2023),[1] to build the cast-iron truss bridge was raised through the sale of £10 shares. The foundation stone was laid in 1873 and the new bridge opened to traffic in 1875.
Crossing tolls were set as follows:
- horse and carriage 1/-,
- horse and wagon 6d,
- horse alone 3d,
- people and passengers 1d,
- motorcycles 3d,
- cars 1/-
- lorries 2/6,
Second bridge
The Victorian structure began to show its age with the introduction of motor vehicles. With a maximum limit of 6,000 kg (13,000 lb), heavier commercial traffic such as trucks and vans were unable to use the crossing.[2] The Nottinghamshire County Council (Gunthorpe Bridge) Act 1925 (15 & 16 Geo. 5. c. lvii) empowered Nottinghamshire County Council to buy out the Gunthorpe Bridge Company, demolish the old bridge and replace it with the present one.
The current bridge, which is a three span, reinforced concrete arch bridge, was built in 1927. It is 400 m (1,300 ft) upstream from Old Gunthorpe Bridge. In conjunction with the new bridge, was a new bypass around the village of Gunthorpe and East Bridgford.[3][4] The central arch has a span of 38 m (125 ft) while the two side arches span 31 m (102 ft). All three arches are supported by four concrete ribs.[5]
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