Cookham Bridge, Road bridge in Cookham, England
Cookham Bridge is a single-lane road bridge that crosses the River Thames, linking Cookham in Berkshire to Bourne End in Buckinghamshire. The structure uses wrought iron girders supported by concrete-filled iron columns to span the river.
The bridge was built in 1867, replacing an earlier wooden structure from 1840. It originally operated as a toll crossing until Berkshire County Council purchased it in 1947.
The Grade II listed structure represents Victorian engineering methods with its wrought iron girders supported by concrete-filled iron pillars across the Thames.
Traffic lights at both ends control vehicle flow across the bridge, ensuring safe passage during busy times. Dedicated pedestrian walkways run along the sides to keep foot traffic separated from cars.
The builders rejected an ambitious design proposal by engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel for a cast iron suspension bridge at this location. Cost constraints led planners to choose the simpler wrought iron girder structure that stands today.
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