| Revision as of 14:24, 25 April 2007 editPigsonthewing (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Event coordinators, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, File movers, IP block exemptions, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers, Template editors266,416 edits rv source does not support "h'way agency say dernegrous" claim. Also restroe coords per talk← Previous edit | Revision as of 15:44, 25 April 2007 edit undoAdambro (talk | contribs)19,040 edits Slight reword to fit with what reference says about Highways Agency. Change some refs to cite web format.Next edit → | ||
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| '''Tinsley Viaduct''' is a two-tier ] in ], ]; the first of its kind in the country. It carries the ] and the A631 some 1033 ] over the ], from ] to ], crossing the ], ] (now know as the ] and ]) on-route, and with the ] route also passing underneath. | '''Tinsley Viaduct''' is a two-tier ] in ], ]; the first of its kind in the country. It carries the ] and the A631 some 1033 ] over the ], from ] to ], crossing the ], ] (now know as the ] and ]) on-route, and with the ] route also passing underneath. | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| The ] was opened in March ]<ref> |
The ] was opened in March ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/23/Tinsley.htm|title=Tinsley Viaduct, Sheffield|first=Sydney A.|last=Leleux|month=February|year=1969}}</ref> and cost £6 million to build. The bridge has since been strengthened, in 1983 and again recently, with work finished in spring 2006. Although originally designed to carry 6 lanes, during the strengthening work the M1 was reduced to 4 lanes following an ] directive on load bearing. This arrangement has now been made permanent to allow the third lane in each direction to join from J34 to make the very busy junction safer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?NewsAreaID=2&ReleaseID=172690|title=£82 Million M1 Tinsley Viaduct strengthening work nears completion|date=2005-10-10|publisher=]}}</ref> | ||
| The viaduct is balanced on rollers to allow for thermal expansion and contraction, and the route weaves slightly in order to make its way past other buildings. As things currently stand, the ] Shopping Centre lies in the valley to the west, while to the east is the ] ]. | The viaduct is balanced on rollers to allow for thermal expansion and contraction, and the route weaves slightly in order to make its way past other buildings. As things currently stand, the ] Shopping Centre lies in the valley to the west, while to the east is the ] ]. | ||
| The viaduct is one of Sheffield's most prominent landmarks, made all the more so by the adjacent pair of ]s that were left standing for safety reasons after the demolition of the Blackburn Meadows ]. Both the viaduct and the cooling towers continue to be the subject of local controversy — many criticise the viaduct as unsafe and constantly under repair, and others consider the cooling towers an eye-sore that should be pulled down. The cooling towers in particular have been a major point of contention over the years, and were once only saved from destruction after being chosen as a nesting site by a rare bird. More recently, plans have been made to turn them into a piece of public art,<ref> |
The viaduct is one of Sheffield's most prominent landmarks, made all the more so by the adjacent pair of ]s that were left standing for safety reasons after the demolition of the Blackburn Meadows ]. Both the viaduct and the cooling towers continue to be the subject of local controversy — many criticise the viaduct as unsafe and constantly under repair, and others consider the cooling towers an eye-sore that should be pulled down. The cooling towers in particular have been a major point of contention over the years, and were once only saved from destruction after being chosen as a nesting site by a rare bird. More recently, plans have been made to turn them into a piece of public art, including two huge vases with flowers protruding from them, however the Highways Agency would not allow this.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5160214.stm|title=Turning towers into art|publisher=]|date=2006-07-08}}</ref> Other plans include more practical uses such as concert halls, skate parks and a theme park. Their iconic status, and the possibly prohibitive costs of demolishing the towers safely, would until recently looked to have cemented their status in Sheffield's future as much as they were a part of its history, until the owner of the tower (and the now-demolished power station) ], have stated their intention to demolish them now that the strengthening of the viaduct makes it more feasible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/4895670.stm|title=Setback for ambitious art project|publisher=]|date=2006-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/6103416.stm|title='Unique' towers facing demolition|publisher=]|date=2006-10-31}}</ref> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 15:44, 25 April 2007
Bridge in Tinsley/Wincobank| Tinsley Viaduct | |
|---|---|
 The Viaduct from Meadowhall, with the cooling towers of the former Blackburn Meadows power station, behind | |
| Coordinates | 53°25′03″N 1°24′22″W / 53.41763°N 1.406205°W / 53.41763; -1.406205 |
| Carries | M1, A631 |
| Crosses | River Don Sheffield Canal Sheffield and Rotherham Railway |
| Locale | Tinsley/Wincobank |
| Maintained by | Highways Agency |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | twin deck box girder bridge |
| Total length | 1,033m / 3,400 feet |
| Width | 6 lanes |
| Height | 55m / 180 feet |
| Longest span | 50 m / 163 feet (20 spans) |
| Clearance above | 6m (on the A631) |
| Clearance below | 6 metres |
| History | |
| Construction start | Spring 1965 |
| Construction end | 1968 |
| Opened | 25 March 1968 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 100,000 vehicles/day |
| Location | |
Tinsley Viaduct is a two-tier road bridge in Sheffield, England; the first of its kind in the country. It carries the M1 and the A631 some 1033 metres over the Don Valley, from Tinsley to Wincobank, crossing the Sheffield Canal, Sheffield and Rotherham Railway (now know as the Dearne Valley Line and Sheffield-Hull Line) on-route, and with the Supertram route also passing underneath.
The viaduct was opened in March 1968 and cost £6 million to build. The bridge has since been strengthened, in 1983 and again recently, with work finished in spring 2006. Although originally designed to carry 6 lanes, during the strengthening work the M1 was reduced to 4 lanes following an EU directive on load bearing. This arrangement has now been made permanent to allow the third lane in each direction to join from J34 to make the very busy junction safer.
The viaduct is balanced on rollers to allow for thermal expansion and contraction, and the route weaves slightly in order to make its way past other buildings. As things currently stand, the Meadowhall Shopping Centre lies in the valley to the west, while to the east is the Blackburn Meadows sewage works.
The viaduct is one of Sheffield's most prominent landmarks, made all the more so by the adjacent pair of cooling towers that were left standing for safety reasons after the demolition of the Blackburn Meadows power station. Both the viaduct and the cooling towers continue to be the subject of local controversy — many criticise the viaduct as unsafe and constantly under repair, and others consider the cooling towers an eye-sore that should be pulled down. The cooling towers in particular have been a major point of contention over the years, and were once only saved from destruction after being chosen as a nesting site by a rare bird. More recently, plans have been made to turn them into a piece of public art, including two huge vases with flowers protruding from them, however the Highways Agency would not allow this. Other plans include more practical uses such as concert halls, skate parks and a theme park. Their iconic status, and the possibly prohibitive costs of demolishing the towers safely, would until recently looked to have cemented their status in Sheffield's future as much as they were a part of its history, until the owner of the tower (and the now-demolished power station) E.On, have stated their intention to demolish them now that the strengthening of the viaduct makes it more feasible.
References
- "Tinsley Viaduct". Highways Agency.
- ^ "M1 Aston-Sheffield-Leeds". The Motorway Archive Trust.
- "Tinsley viaduct strengthening project, Sheffield". Prime Minister's Award.
- Leleux, Sydney A. (1969). "Tinsley Viaduct, Sheffield".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - "£82 Million M1 Tinsley Viaduct strengthening work nears completion". Highways Agency. 2005-10-10.
- "Turning towers into art". BBC News. 2006-07-08.
- "Setback for ambitious art project". BBC News. 2006-04-10.
- "'Unique' towers facing demolition". BBC News. 2006-10-31.
External links
- Project website Prime Minister's Award
- Go sheffo: Cooling the Towers Cooling towers public art competition held in 2005.
- BBC News 'Turning towers into art' A news article on the Tinsley Viaduct cooling towers