The Suspension Bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. This type of bridge dates from the early 19th century, while bridges without vertical suspenders have a long history in many mountainous parts of the world. [1] Its story, about de Clifton Suspension Bridge, began in 1754 with the dream of a Bristolian wine merchant, Willian Vicky, who left a legacy to build a bridge over the Avon Gorge. 24 year old Isambard Kingdom Brunel was eventually declared the winner and appointed project engineer - his first major commission. The foundation stone was laid in 1831 but the project was dogged with political and financial difficulties and by 1843, with only the towers completed, the project was abandoned. Brunel died aged only 53 years in 1859 but the Bridge was completed as his memorial and finally opened in 1864.[2]
During the constrution of this bridge two mens killed, and the Clifton Suspension Bridge is well know as a suicide bridge. In 1998 barries were installed to prevent people jumping. In the four years after the installation the suicide reduce rate from eight to four deaths per year.
Construction of the bridge was featured in the Channel 4 television series The Worst Jobs in History, as part of an episode entitled The Worst Industrial Jobs in History, first broadcast on 7 May 2006. Presenter Tony Robinson climbs the chains over one of the towers during the sequence, tied off to a safety line, to demonstrate what the workers building the span endured. He particularly struggles with the swirling winds and states that during construction the wind blew the platform for the lines seventy feet in the air at one point, yet all the workers survived.[3]
Its a landmark and a symbol of the city of Bristol. This bridge linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset, England. For almost 150 years has received most visitors all over the word and is located in the Cifton, near Avor Gorge Hotel. During the constrution of this bridge two mens killed, and the Clifton Suspension Bridge is well know as a suicide bridge. In 1998 barries were installed to prevent people jumping. In the four years after the installation the suicide reduce rate from eight to four deaths per year.
Dimensions:
Span: 702 ft 3 in (214.05 m)
Height of towers: 86 ft (26 m) above deck
Tower Width: 11 ft (4 m)
Clearance: 245 ft (75 m) above high water level
Traffic: Four million vehicles per year
References
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_bridge
2. http://www.cliftonbridge.org.uk/
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_Suspension_Bridge
No comments:
Post a Comment