Ashton Avenue Bridge, Grade II listed railway bridge in Bristol, England.
Ashton Avenue Bridge is a listed iron bridge that spans the River Avon with three sections, connecting both riverbanks. The structure now carries guided busway traffic and bicycle paths that serve daily commuters across the city.
The bridge opened in 1906 and was an ambitious infrastructure project that faced significant cost overruns due to engineering challenges. A notable mechanical feature was permanently deactivated in 1951 when hydraulic systems were sealed at the foundations.
The structure shows early industrial engineering from a time when Bristol was an important transport hub, and it still connects multiple parts of the city today.
The crossing is easily accessible for pedestrians and is used year-round by buses and cyclists. It helps to know that traffic flows regularly and the footpath is well integrated with other transport connections nearby.
The structure originally featured a movable center section that could swing in both directions to allow larger vessels to pass on the river below. This innovative design was later simplified as maritime traffic needs changed.
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