Laira Bridge
| Laira Bridge | |
| Devon | |
|---|---|
 The Laira Bridge, before refurbishment | |
| Location | |
| Type: | Railway bridge |
| Carrying: | Footpath (formerly a railway) |
| Crossing: | River Plym |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | Expression error: Unexpected < operator.&y=Expression error: Unexpected < operator.&z=120 SX501525426 |
| Location: | 50°22’9"N, 4°6’30"W |
| Structure | |
| Type: | Railway bridge |
| History | |
| Built 1887 | |
| Information | |
The Laira Bridge is a disused railway bridge in the city of Plymouth in Devon that crosses the mouth of the Laira; a broad, tidal reach of the River Plym as it enters the Cattewater.
In 2015,[1] the bridge was refurbished to carry a pedestrian and cycle path.
The name is also used to refer to the road bridge that runs alongside and carries the A379 road.
History
The bridge was bult to carry the London and South Western Railway branch to Turnchapel over the River Plym. Later the Great Western Railway also had running powers over the bridge providing access to their Yealmpton branch line at Plymstock. The bridge was built by Messrs Relf and Pethick after being authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1883. It was completed by 1887, and was opened in July 1892.
Passenger trains ceased to use the bridge when the passenger services to Turnchapel and Yealmpton were terminated in the 1950s but the bridge remained in use to serve the Associated Portland Cement works. It finally closed to traffic in the 1990s.[2]
Refurbishment as a cycle and pedestrian bridge
In 2015, the bridge was restored at a cost of £3.5 million in order to turn it into a cycle and pedestrian pathway. The work was due for completion by Spring 2015.[3] Phase 1 was completed in May 2015.[1] The path links into existing footpaths and cycleways including Route 27 of the National Cycle Network. The bridge will link existing off road cycle paths which join Devonport and Stonehouse in the west to Plymstock and Plympton in the east.[4] Funding came from a number of sources including a £750,000 developer contribution from the Saltram Meadow development[5] and from the government's local sustainable transport fund.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 {{cite web|title=Laira Rail Bridge Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme|url=http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/plymotionlairarailbridge The Laira Bridge: Plymotion] (Plymough City Council)
- ↑ "Laira Bridge". Our Transport Heritage. http://www.transportheritage.com/find-heritage-locations.html?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=52&sobi2Id=828. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
- ↑ Applin, Laura. "PICTURES: Rusty old Laira Rail Bridge being transformed into cycle route". Plymouth Herald. http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Work-begins-old-railway-bridge/story-21166793-detail/story.html?782#ixzz33Gk8Fkz3. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
- ↑ "Laira Rail Bridge Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme". Plymouth City Council Website. http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/transportandroads/plymotion/plymotionnutsandbolts/plymotionlairarailbridge.htm. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
- ↑ Rossiter, Keith (13 January 2014). "Cyclists set to get green light on Laira Bridge". Plymouth Herlad. http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Cyclists-set-green-light-Laira-Bridge/story-20435975-detail/story.html. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
- ↑ "Plymouth's Laira Bridge to become new cycling route". BBC News website. 19 June 2014. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-27915236. Retrieved 2014-06-22.