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| The bridge was designed by ] (16 September 1928 – 16 March 2005). Brown was a ] and bridge designer who specialised in ]. He was one of the principal designers at ] (now Hyder Consulting) from 1956 to 1985. There were several firms involved in the initial construction of the Erskine Bridge. The structural engineering was done by ]. The contractors were ], ]-], Lehane Mackenzie and Shand Ltd were responsible for the foundation of the bridge. The stay cable steel supplier was Bridon International. Force Technology was responsible for new wind tunnel testing. The construction material used to construct the deck and pylons was steel.<ref name="erskinebridge1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ssa.nls.uk/film/2254 |title=Scottish Screen Archive - Full record for 'ERSKINE BRIDGE, the' |publisher=Ssa.nls.uk |date= |accessdate=31 December 2013}}</ref> It has a {{convert|524|m|abbr=on}} main span and two {{convert|68|m|abbr=on}} approach spans. It is {{convert|38|m|abbr=on}} high and {{convert|1321.87|m|abbr=on}} long. The clearance of the bridge is 45 metres. The bridge cost including approaches was £10.5million.<ref>http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/68383/details/erskine+erskine+bridge/</ref> The bridge was opened on 2 July 1971 by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/princess-opens-erskine-bridge |title=Princess Opens Erskine Bridge - British Pathé |publisher=Britishpathe.com |date= |accessdate=31 December 2013}}</ref> The ceremonial plaque of the opening of the bridge can be viewed on the railings of the western footpath, at the centre of the main span. | The bridge was designed by ] (16 September 1928 – 16 March 2005). Brown was a ] and bridge designer who specialised in ]. He was one of the principal designers at ] (now Hyder Consulting) from 1956 to 1985. There were several firms involved in the initial construction of the Erskine Bridge. The structural engineering was done by ]. The contractors were ], ]-], Lehane Mackenzie and Shand Ltd were responsible for the foundation of the bridge. The stay cable steel supplier was Bridon International. Force Technology was responsible for new wind tunnel testing. The construction material used to construct the deck and pylons was steel.<ref name="erskinebridge1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ssa.nls.uk/film/2254 |title=Scottish Screen Archive - Full record for 'ERSKINE BRIDGE, the' |publisher=Ssa.nls.uk |date= |accessdate=31 December 2013}}</ref> It has a {{convert|524|m|abbr=on}} main span and two {{convert|68|m|abbr=on}} approach spans. It is {{convert|38|m|abbr=on}} high and {{convert|1321.87|m|abbr=on}} long. The clearance of the bridge is 45 metres. The bridge cost including approaches was £10.5million.<ref>http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/68383/details/erskine+erskine+bridge/</ref> The bridge was opened on 2 July 1971 by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/princess-opens-erskine-bridge |title=Princess Opens Erskine Bridge - British Pathé |publisher=Britishpathe.com |date= |accessdate=31 December 2013}}</ref> The ceremonial plaque of the opening of the bridge can be viewed on the railings of the western footpath, at the centre of the main span. | ||
| At the time of construction of the Erskine Bridge, the existing ] in ] which has been constructed in a similar fashion to by the same structural engineers (Freeman Fox & Partners) as Erskine, collapsed. The collapse was a significant one and not without casualties. The verdict for the cause of the collapse was made official on 14th July 1971, and was partially attributed to the structural design provided by Freeman Fox & Partners. The reason appeared to be that there was a 4.5 inch difference in camber between 2 half girders on the west end of the span. By this time the Erskine Bridge had already been opened for use but now failed to meet the new standards established due to the collapse of the ]. Therefore Erskine saw further stiffening after it had been opened.<ref name="erskinebridge1"/> The bridge also operates an overload weight detection system. The installed Hi-Trac 100+ logs the vehicle axle weight whilst in motion. The ] system uses Class 1 BL Piezo Electric sensors and the system couples this data with the ] data to produce evidence showing all relevant information. There is an additional camera that takes 5 photos of the vehicle from a side-on view which can identify the haulage company and also the load carried if necessary. This also helps with clarifying if ] axles are lifted when they should not be. This system is fully operational and reports can be printed for overweight vehicles if necessary and the offending parties can be shown the ].<ref>{{cite web|author=TDC Systems Limited |url=http://www.tdcsystems.co.uk/case-studies/article/erskine-bridge-overload-detection-system |title=Erskine Bridge Overload Detection System |publisher=Tdcsystems.co.uk |date=2 July 1971 |accessdate=31 December 2013}}</ref> | At the time of construction of the Erskine Bridge, the existing ] in ] which has been constructed in a similar fashion to by the same structural engineers (]) as the Erskine Bridge, collapsed. The collapse was a significant one and not without ]. The verdict for the cause of the collapse was made official on 14th July 1971, and was partially attributed to the structural design provided by Freeman Fox & Partners. The reason appeared to be that there was a 4.5 inch difference in camber between 2 half girders on the west end of the span. By this time the Erskine Bridge had already been opened for use but now failed to meet the new standards established due to the collapse of the ]. Therefore Erskine saw further stiffening after it had been opened.<ref name="erskinebridge1"/> The bridge also operates an overload weight detection system. The installed Hi-Trac 100+ logs the vehicle axle weight whilst in motion. The ] system uses Class 1 BL Piezo Electric sensors and the system couples this data with the ] data to produce evidence showing all relevant information. There is an additional camera that takes 5 photos of the vehicle from a side-on view which can identify the haulage company and also the load carried if necessary. This also helps with clarifying if ] axles are lifted when they should not be. This system is fully operational and reports can be printed for overweight vehicles if necessary and the offending parties can be shown the ].<ref>{{cite web|author=TDC Systems Limited |url=http://www.tdcsystems.co.uk/case-studies/article/erskine-bridge-overload-detection-system |title=Erskine Bridge Overload Detection System |publisher=Tdcsystems.co.uk |date=2 July 1971 |accessdate=31 December 2013}}</ref> | ||
| ==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
Revision as of 15:01, 3 January 2014
Bridge in Erskine, Scotland
| Erskine Bridge | |
|---|---|
 View of the Erskine Bridge from the south bank of the River Clyde. | |
| Coordinates | 55°55′13″N 4°27′44″W / 55.92028°N 4.46222°W / 55.92028; -4.46222 |
| Carries | Motor Vehicles, Cyclists, Pedestrians |
| Crosses | River Clyde |
| Locale | Erskine, Scotland |
| Official name | Erskine Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Box girder bridge |
| Width | Dual two-lane carriageway, two cycle/footpaths (total width 33 m) |
| Longest span | 524 m (1,719 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | 2 July 1971 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | ~35,000 vehicles |
| Toll | Free |
| Location | |
The Erskine Bridge is a Cable-Stayed Box Girder Bridge spanning the River Clyde in west central Scotland. The bridge connects West Dunbartonshire with Renfrewshire and can used by all types of Motor Vehicles, Cyclists and Pedestrians. The Erskine Bridge is also know as the A898 which is it's official road name.
Construction
The bridge was designed by William Brown (16 September 1928 – 16 March 2005). Brown was a structural engineer and bridge designer who specialised in suspension bridges. He was one of the principal designers at Freeman Fox & Partners (now Hyder Consulting) from 1956 to 1985. There were several firms involved in the initial construction of the Erskine Bridge. The structural engineering was done by Freeman Fox & Partners. The contractors were Christiani & Nielsen, Fairfields-Mabey, Lehane Mackenzie and Shand Ltd were responsible for the foundation of the bridge. The stay cable steel supplier was Bridon International. Force Technology was responsible for new wind tunnel testing. The construction material used to construct the deck and pylons was steel. It has a 524 m (1,719 ft) main span and two 68 m (223 ft) approach spans. It is 38 m (125 ft) high and 1,321.87 m (4,336.8 ft) long. The clearance of the bridge is 45 metres. The bridge cost including approaches was £10.5million. The bridge was opened on 2 July 1971 by HRH Princess Anne. The ceremonial plaque of the opening of the bridge can be viewed on the railings of the western footpath, at the centre of the main span.
At the time of construction of the Erskine Bridge, the existing West Gate Bridge in Australia which has been constructed in a similar fashion to by the same structural engineers (Freeman Fox & Partners) as the Erskine Bridge, collapsed. The collapse was a significant one and not without casualties. The verdict for the cause of the collapse was made official on 14th July 1971, and was partially attributed to the structural design provided by Freeman Fox & Partners. The reason appeared to be that there was a 4.5 inch difference in camber between 2 half girders on the west end of the span. By this time the Erskine Bridge had already been opened for use but now failed to meet the new standards established due to the collapse of the West Gate Bridge. Therefore Erskine saw further stiffening after it had been opened. The bridge also operates an overload weight detection system. The installed Hi-Trac 100+ logs the vehicle axle weight whilst in motion. The weigh in motion system uses Class 1 BL Piezo Electric sensors and the system couples this data with the ANPR data to produce evidence showing all relevant information. There is an additional camera that takes 5 photos of the vehicle from a side-on view which can identify the haulage company and also the load carried if necessary. This also helps with clarifying if HGV axles are lifted when they should not be. This system is fully operational and reports can be printed for overweight vehicles if necessary and the offending parties can be shown the evidence.
Geography
The bridge connects the M898 Motorway at Erskine in Renfrewshire on the south side to the A82 (Great Western Road) at Old Kilpatrick in West Dunbartonshire on the northern side. The bridge is somewhat famous because of this as it links Scotland's second longest road the A82 (Great Western Road) to the M898 Motorway on the other side, the M898 Motorway being the highest numbered Motorway in the United Kingdom. The bridge is set at a high level to allow the passage of Shipping beneath. The high height of the bridge also offers stunning views of Erskine, Dumbarton, Clyde Estuary, Glasgow Airport and the Kilpatrick Hills. The area around the bridge has some historical significance as there have been various pieces of Roman artifacts found. Historical items found at the site include Roman coins known as Sestertius and a Crannog which is an artificial man-made island. The bridge itself is the A898 road and its short approach from the south is on a spur from the M8 Motorway. The bridge is the most downstream of all the Clyde bridges and is the last point at which the Estuary can be crossed by road. It's main function is to divert traffic away from Glasgow and the urban stretches of the A82 which run through the city's West End and outer Suburbs. The location of the bridge means that the bridge is used by Tourist traffic from Glasgow International Airport bound for Loch Lomond and the north west Highlands.
Toll bridge
The bridge was a Toll Bridge until 31 March 2006. The bridge is now part of the Trunk Road network of Scotland. This means that the bridge is now under the responsibility of Transport Scotland and further tolling is not required. The bridge was one of only three toll bridges left in Scotland when the tolls were abolished. The others were the Forth Road Bridge and the Tay Road Bridge.The Tolls Were Abolished on those bridges on 11 February 2008. The bridge had briefly been free of charge before - in 2001 an oversight caused the legislative order enforcing the toll to lapse and drivers crossed uncharged until the new Order was enforced. Its current traffic levels are estimated at 35,000 vehicles per day. The bridge was considered something of a White Elephant given its elaborate design yet relatively low traffic levels compared to the congested Kingston Bridge further upstream. It was expected to have a major increase in traffic since toll removal, but this has not happened to any significant degree.
Events
There have been two known Births on the bridge. The first Birth was that of a baby boy who was born 19 September 1990. He was subsequently named Oliver Erskine Edwards in Homage to the bridge. A second baby, Kiera Sarah-Marie McFettridge was born in an ambulance on the bridge on 18 January 2011. The bridge has been used once by a group of Base Jumpers in August 2010. A Royal Navy Westland Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet, coastguard teams and officers from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service were all called out to the bridge following the incident. The bridge was also damaged when the Texaco Captain platform collided with the underside of the road deck on 4 August 1996. The Oil Rig was constructed upstream at Clydebank before being towed down the River Clyde. The bridge reopened to Pedestrians and Cyclists on 22 August 1996. This was followed by Cars and Motorcycles on 30 August 1996. The bridge was fully opened again to Heavy Goods Vehicles on 22 December 1996. The cost of the repairs was £3.6 million with a further £700,000 in lost revenue from tolls. The bridge has also been the subject of a murder investigation and ensuing court case after parts of a man's Dismembered body were found underneath the bridge in late 2001. Another man was subsequently arrested and convicted for this crime.
Suicides
The Erskine Bridge is one of Scotland's most notorious Suicide spots: estimates suggest that more than fifteen people commit Suicide there each year. This has led to the Samaritans placing signs at each path leading onto the bridge and also within four public telephone boxes that are situated on the twin footpaths running adjacent to the roadway on either side of the river. There is also the regular SOS phones which can be seen on motorways nationwide, upon the bridge. The bridge was brought into the media spotlight again after the death of two young girls who absconded from a near-by secure unit. The two girls (who were both under sixteen) jumped from the bridge whilst holding hands The suicide of these two girls brought around an investigation that seen failings in the secure unit that they were being housed in. It also saw a dramatic period of major safety upgrades to the bridge. In September 2011, work started to install Suicide Barriers along the length of the bridge to prevent future suicide attempts. The installation of the new barriers was completed by Amey Highways at a cost of £3.5 million. The vehicle barriers are also being upgraded. The new barriers being installed are H4a High Containment Vehicle Barriers. These works will also see the towers and the suspension cables being re-painted. Stage one of this upgrade started on 15 July 2013 and is scheduled to last for 12 months. The upgrade is being undertaken by Highway Barrier Solutions and will cost £6 million.
See also
Notes
- ^ "Construction of the Erskine Bridge". Erskinebridge.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2013/167/pdfs/ssi_20130167_en.pdf
- "Scottish Screen Archive - Full record for 'ERSKINE BRIDGE, the'". Ssa.nls.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/68383/details/erskine+erskine+bridge/
- "Princess Opens Erskine Bridge - British Pathé". Britishpathe.com. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- TDC Systems Limited (2 July 1971). "Erskine Bridge Overload Detection System". Tdcsystems.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/index.php?title=Road_Facts_and_Figures
- http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m898/
- http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/68383/details/erskine+erskine+bridge/
- http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/43308/details/erskine+bridge/
- http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/43313/details/erskine+bridge/
- "Prioritising bridge maintenance". Transport Scotland. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- "New era for Erskine Bridge". Transport Scotland. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- "UK | Scotland | Tolls removed from Scots bridges". BBC News. 11 February 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- "SCOTLAND | Tolls suspended on Scottish bridge". BBC News. 31 August 2001. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- "Interesting facts about the Erskine Bridge". Erskinebridge.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- Graham Fraser (11 August 2010). "Adrenaline junkies jump off Erskine Bridge | Glasgow & West | News | STV". News. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- "Erskine Bridge is closed after oil-rig collision Towing accident ends in severe damage". Herald Scotland. 5 August 1996. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- "Erskine Bridge Collision - Scottish Office Pursues Recovery of Costs". Scotland.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2929215.stm
- http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/exclusive-lawyer-stabs-himself-then-jumps-1043682
- http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2013/08/08/467051-man-scales-erskine-bridge/?mode=print
- http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/erskine-bridge-signs-created-help-2597466
- http://www.scotsman.com/news/teenage-girls-held-hands-as-they-leapt-from-erskine-bridge-in-apparent-suicide-pact-1-471365
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-17906915
- http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/10/895/Fatal-Accident-Inquiry
- "Higher barriers on Erskine Bridge". Clydebank Live. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- "A898 Erskine Bridge Vehicle Barrier Replacement". Transport Scotland. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
External links