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The New Kingsferry Bridge On The Isle Of Sheppey. The first rising-platform bridge
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The New Kingsferry Bridge On The Isle Of Sheppey. The first rising-platform bridge
The New Kingsferry Bridge On The Isle Of Sheppey.
The first rising-platform bridge to be built in twenty-five years is nearing completion on the only road to the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent. The original bridge - the only link between the island and the mainland - was built a hundred years ago, and has been damaged many times. Each time traffic was held up for days - sometimes weeks, and on one occasion a ferry was the form form of contact for a very long period. It was built under the guidance of Sir Benjamin Baker who was the consulting engineer for the Forth Bridge. Incidentally, the builders of this bridge are now concerned with the new Forth Bridge as well. The new bridge, which will link Sheppey with Sittingbourne (the nearest towns) over the River Swale, was scheduled to have been completed in 1961, but progress has been so good that it is now hoped to have it completed later this year. It will have a roadway nearly a hundred feet wide. The centre span will have a vertical lift rising 95 feet above the water. Operation will be by electricity. One tower is already in position and the other should be completed by the Summer. The total length of the bridge will be 60ft. The width of nearly a hundred feet will take a fifty foot carrriageway, a twenty-four foot railway track, and a six foot pathway. Two new approach roads have been constructed and these are three miles long. The work is being carried out by John Howard and Co. Ltd. and the cost is in the region of £ 1, 000, 000. Additionally, a tunnel is being bored beneath the bridge to carry the three services - electricity, gas and water mains. Photo shows: Isle of Sheppeys new bridge a view of one of the two 100ft towers which the centre vertical span will rise and fall. Kent, England. 12 April 1959
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Media ID 10973919
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The New Kingsferry Bridge: A Testament to Progress and Connectivity". This print captures the remarkable sight of the first rising-platform bridge in twenty-five years, soon to be completed on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. Serving as the sole link between this picturesque island and the mainland, its predecessor had endured countless damages over a century, causing prolonged traffic disruptions and even resorting to ferry services at times. Under the guidance of Sir Benjamin Baker, renowned consulting engineer for the iconic Forth Bridge, this new marvel is nearing completion. Originally slated for 1961, progress has been so impressive that it is now expected to open later this year. The bridge will span across River Swale connecting Sheppey with Sittingbourne and boast a roadway nearly one hundred feet wide. With a central span featuring an awe-inspiring vertical lift reaching 95 feet above water level, powered by electricity, this engineering masterpiece promises seamless operation. One tower stands tall already while its counterpart nears completion by summer. Spanning sixty feet in total length, it accommodates a fifty-foot carriage way alongside a twenty-four foot railway track and six-foot pathway. To complement this grand structure's construction process, two three-mile-long approach roads have been meticulously crafted. John Howard and Co. Ltd. , entrusted with this monumental task costing approximately £1 million pounds (excluding commercial use), are also simultaneously boring a tunnel beneath the bridge to house essential utilities such as electricity, gas, and water mains. This historic photograph showcases one of two towering structures that will facilitate smooth vertical movement within its center span—a testament to human ingenuity striving towards progress while fostering connectivity among communities.
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