Clifton Suspension Bridge, Suspension bridge in Clifton, England
Clifton Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge measuring 412 meters long across the Avon Gorge between Bristol and North Somerset in England. Two stone towers rising 72 meters support the iron chains that hold up the 9.45-meter wide roadway deck.
A bequest from 1753 triggered the competition won by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1831, though work stalled repeatedly. Barlow and Hawkshaw completed the project after Brunel's death, opening the crossing in 1864 as a memorial to the late engineer.
The bridge is a symbol of Bristol, appearing on postcards and in films and television programmes. It has hosted the first modern bungee jump in 1979 and a handover of the Olympic Torch relay in 2012. Large metal signs on the towers display the Samaritans' telephone number.
The crossing remains open around the clock, with vehicles paying a toll of one pound while pedestrians and cyclists pass free of charge. Visitors should consider weather conditions as winds over the gorge can make the walk more demanding.
The Leigh Woods tower stands on a 34-metre red sandstone abutment whose interior was long assumed solid; in 2002 twelve vaulted chambers up to 11 metres high were found inside it. The Clifton tower, by contrast, has side cut-outs, and the pointed arches differ between the two.
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