Princess of Wales Bridge

The Princess of Wales Bridge, sometimes referred to as the Diana Bridge or the Princess Diana Bridge, is a dual carriageway road bridge named after the late Diana, Princess of Wales.[1][2][3] It carries Council of Europe Boulevard across the River Tees, Northern England.

Princess of Wales Bridge
Princess of Wales Bridge
Coordinates54°33′57″N 1°18′26″W / 54.5657°N 1.3072°W / 54.5657; -1.3072
CarriesCouncil of Europe Boulevard
CrossesRiver Tees, Teesdale Way
LocaleStockton-on-Tees, England, United Kingdom
Official namePrincess of Wales Bridge
Preceded byTeesquay Millennium Bridge
Followed byInfinity Bridge
Characteristics
DesignSlab and girder
MaterialSteel plate girders and concrete
Longest span40 metres (131 ft)
No. of spans3
Piers in water2
History
Constructed byTarmac Group
Construction end1992
Inaugurated23 September 1992
Location
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Teesdale Business Park in Thornaby is to the south and to the north is the north east of Stockton town centre (at the north end of Riverside Road at a gyratory system). It is in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees.[1][2]

Design

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The bridge is of a slab and girder design[4] with concrete piers and steel plate girder decking.[1] The bridge has three spans – the centre span is 40 metres with two side spans of 30 metres each.[1][5] The bridge has four steel plate girders with composite concrete decking and the abutments and piers are supported on steel H piles driven to sandstone bedrock.[5]

Construction

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The bridge was commissioned by the Teesside Development Corporation[1] and built at a cost of £3 million by Tarmac Group.[1][2][5][6]

Operation

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The bridge was inaugurated on 23 September 1992[2][3][5][6][7] by Diana, Princess of Wales.[8] On rare occasions the bridge is closed for fireworks events.

After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales the bridge was fitted with two memorial plaques.[9]

Local facilities

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Just downriver of the bridge is the River Tees Watersports Centre hosting watersports such as rowing, canoeing, waterskiing, jet skiing and dragon boat racing.

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Princess of Wales Bridge". Bridges on the Tyne. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Kenyon, Chris (March 2002). "A Trip up the Tees". Tees Rowing Club. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  3. ^ a b Burluraux, Don (26 April 2001). "Today's walk: Tees Barrage-Stockton Riverside-Newport Bridge". North York Moors CAM. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  4. ^ Janberg, Nicolas. "Princess of Wales Bridge". Structurae. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d "Bridges over the Tees". Institute of Civil Engineers. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Building the Princess of Wales Bridge". Picture Stockton. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  7. ^ Jeffrey, Colin (18 January 2008). "Community: A Little About The Town We Live in.. Stockton-on-Tees". Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  8. ^ "Court Circular". The Independent. 24 September 1992. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  9. ^ Delplanque, Paul (16 February 2012). "The Jim Kelley Bridge?". Gazettelive – Remember When. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
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