Pont Briwet

Pont Briwet is a railway and road bridge crossing the Dwyryd estuary that connects the communities of Penrhyndeudraeth and Talsarnau in North Wales. The structure carries railway tracks, a two-lane road, and separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians.

The original structure opened in 1867 as a timber viaduct serving the Cambrian Railways as a crucial link between Pwllheli and Machynlleth. A new version completed in 2015 replaced the former single-lane bridge and removed the need for a lengthy detour on narrow roads.

The bridge carries its name from the Welsh word 'briwo', referring to the stone foundations used for drainage and land reclamation in the surrounding area. This detail reflects how the structure relates to the local landscape and its past uses.

The bridge accommodates different types of traffic with separate spaces for vehicles, trains, cyclists, and pedestrians. Visitors should be aware that this is an active transport route and you may encounter other users while crossing the viaduct.

Completed in 2015, the bridge represents how modern infrastructure can combine multiple transport modes in one structure. The design allowed a large area to benefit by eliminating the long detours that were once required through mountain roads.