The Princess of Wales Bridge, sometimes referred to as the Diana Bridge or the Princess Diana Bridge, is a dual carriageway road bridge named after the late Diana, Princess of Wales.[1][2][3] It carries Council of Europe Boulevard across the River Tees, Northern England.
Princess of Wales Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Princess of Wales Bridge | |
| Coordinates | 54°33′57″N 1°18′26″W / 54.5657°N 1.3072°W |
| Carries | Council of Europe Boulevard |
| Crosses | River Tees, Teesdale Way |
| Locale | Stockton-on-Tees, England, United Kingdom |
| Official name | Princess of Wales Bridge |
| Preceded by | Teesquay Millennium Bridge |
| Followed by | Infinity Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Slab and girder |
| Material | Steel plate girders and concrete |
| Longest span | 40 metres (131 ft) |
| No. of spans | 3 |
| Piers in water | 2 |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Tarmac Group |
| Construction end | 1992 |
| Inaugurated | 23 September 1992 |
| Location | |
 | |
Teesdale Business Park in Thornaby is to the south, and to the north is the northeast of Stockton town centre (at the north end of Riverside Road at a gyratory system). It is in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees.[1][2]
Design
editThe bridge is of a slab and girder design[4] with concrete piers and steel plate girder decking.[1] The bridge has three spans – the centre span is 40 metres with two side spans of 30 metres each.[1][5] The bridge has four steel plate girders with composite concrete decking and the abutments and piers are supported on steel H piles driven to sandstone bedrock.[5]
Construction
editThe bridge was commissioned by the Teesside Development Corporation[1] and built at a cost of £3 million by Tarmac Group.[1][2][5][6]
Operation
editThe bridge was inaugurated on 23 September 1992[2][3][5][6][7] by Diana, Princess of Wales.[8] On rare occasions the bridge is closed for fireworks events.
After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales the bridge was fitted with two memorial plaques.[9]
Local facilities
editJust downriver of the bridge is the River Tees Watersports Centre hosting watersports such as rowing, canoeing, waterskiing, jet skiing and dragon boat racing.
Image gallery
edit-
Princess of Wales bridge from the fish quay north bank upriver -
Princess of Wales bridge from the north bank downriver -
Princess of Wales Bridge from the south bank downriver -
River Tees Watersports Centre
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Princess of Wales Bridge". Bridges on the Tyne. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d Kenyon, Chris (March 2002). "A Trip up the Tees". Tees Rowing Club. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ a b Burluraux, Don (26 April 2001). "Today's walk: Tees Barrage-Stockton Riverside-Newport Bridge". North York Moors CAM. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ Janberg, Nicolas. "Princess of Wales Bridge". Structurae. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Bridges over the Tees". Institute of Civil Engineers. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Building the Princess of Wales Bridge". Picture Stockton. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
- ^ Jeffrey, Colin (18 January 2008). "Community: A Little About The Town We Live in.. Stockton-on-Tees". Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ "Court Circular". The Independent. 24 September 1992. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
- ^ Delplanque, Paul (16 February 2012). "The Jim Kelley Bridge?". Gazettelive – Remember When. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.