PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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WHITLEIGH FOOTBRIDGE
It was all very well building some 2,200 houses on the Whitleigh Estate on the northern fringe of the City but unfortunately there was a valley between the houses and the shops and bus services in the main Crownhill Road. The solution was to erect a footbridge spanning the valley. Designed by The Prestressed Concrete Company Ltd, the bridge has an overall span of 362 feet and is 10 feet clear in width. It was constructed by Plymouth City Council's own Works Department and was expected to be completed for a cost of £12,750. [1] Work started on the Bridge in January 1953. [2] Three tons of mild steel and 4½ tons of high tensile steel were incorporated into the design because if reinforced concrete had been used it would have required approximately 50 tons of mild steel, which was not easily come by in those post-war days. [1] The approach from Whitleigh is across an 100 feet long embankment that reaches a height of 25 feet at its highest point. The bridge then rises 4 feet to the centre and falls 3 feet on the Crownhill side. [1] Whitleigh Footbridge was declared open on Saturday September 5th 1953. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Alderman Sir Clifford Tozer and Lady Tozer, each planted a tree at one of the entrances to the bridge. Mr Jack King, chairman of the Works Committee, presented the Lord Mayor with a flower bowl made from a piece of granite from the Guildhall and Miss Jean Watson, the 10-years-old daughgter of the City Engineer, Mr James Paton Watson, presented the Lady Mayoress with a bouquet of flowers [2] At that time the cost of the bridge was given as £17,000 and the valley it crossed was said to be 400 feet in width and between 60 and 70 feet deep. [2] Source:
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