Blackfriars Bridge, Steel bridge in City of London and Southwark, United Kingdom
Blackfriars Bridge is a steel bridge in the City of London and Southwark, United Kingdom, spanning 281 meters (920 feet) along the Thames. The structure rests on five iron arches carried by solid piers made of concrete and granite.
A stone crossing from 1769 originally occupied this site, linking both banks until Joseph Cubitt designed a replacement that opened in 1869. The engineer's work was later expanded between 1907 and 1910, widening the structure from 21 meters (69 feet) to 32 meters (105 feet).
The name recalls a Dominican monastery that once occupied the northern bank of the Thames, where monks wore black robes. Today the crossing serves commuters and walkers as an important link between financial districts and cultural venues on the south bank.
Pedestrian paths run on both sides of the roadways, offering views upstream and downstream along the Thames. The crossing remains open all hours and connects the northern business district directly with cultural sites on the south bank.
Sculptures of water and rail transport symbols stand on the piers, recalling earlier plans to incorporate a railway line into the design. Below the deck lie remnants of an unfinished station platform that was meant to provide direct access to the city center.
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