NEW BRIDGES

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1933, Page 8

NEW BRIDGES

SPANNINC THE THAMES PRINCE OF WALES’ RECORD

LONDON, August 7. The Prince of Wales has performed wliat must surely be a feat unique iu the history of any country. On one afternoon this week he declared open for traffic three new bridgeg over the Thames, all near to one another. They cost.over half a million pounds. One spans the. river at Hampton Court, another at Chiswick, and another at Richmond—a distance altogether of about seven. miles. The main ceremony took place at-Hampton Court Bridge.

All three bridges are different in design and had different architects, With whom were associated eminent engineers. Sir Edward Lutyens is the architect of Hampton Court Bridge, Sir Herbet Baker of' Chiswick and MiMaxwell Ayton of Twickenham. The Chiswick and Twickenham bridges ar,e links in a scheme first projected in 1909 following the work of a committee appointed to investigate the traffic problems of Greater London. Its main idea i, s to relieve existing main roads by providing additional .routes between them. One of these proposed new routes-was called the Great Chertsev Road, to pass between the B'ath ancl Portsmouth roads to carry London traffic gouth-westward. For a variety .cf reasons the scheme was dealt with only piecemeal until 1927, "hen .the Ministry of Transport considered tliat the time had come for building these two bridges mentioned. Chiswick Bridge is 2200 feet long, and the contract for itg construction was £208,284. It is about 100 yards about the winning post of the, Oxford and .Cambridge boat race, and crosses the river in three spans, the centre being 150 feet, giving 25ft head room above high waiter. It is <0 feet wide, with a roadway of 40 and fcotpathg of 15 feet on either side.

Twickenham Bridge is 2500 feet long, and the' contract price was £191,200. It crosses the Thames about 200 feet below the'Southern Railway bridge and some .900 feet above the lock bridge. There ate three arches, the- centre one being 103 feet, four inches. This bridge algo’i B 70 feet wide. Hampton Court' Bridge replaces & monstrous - and decaying structure- of iron by fits own fair compliment to the Palace across the water. It is in ted brick and Portland stone, fitted into graceful .-'curves by Sir .Edward Lutyens - If, ig.tlia fourth over the Thames atthis spot. The first was built in 1750 by one James Clark, who was allowed to levy tolls on all,traffic. .Being built of wood- its life was hut short, and in 1778 ' a second bridge, with stone abutments, was built.. This also fell into decay about a century later, and theie wits'"built a third bridge, demolished recntly. The total cost here, including compensation for land and property, has beefr £IBO,OOO. At each bridge, the Prince cut » tape with a pair of specially designed scissors' having blades nearly a foot long, embossed with the coats of arms of’Middlesex and Surrey, the two counties which ilie bridges connect. Oil arrival at Chiswick, the Prince cut thfi Lape, declaring the bridge open, and inspected the structure. He afterward drove to the Great Cliertsey Road to the new Twickenham, Bridge, where a similar ceremony took place. At Hampton Court Bdidge the Prince cut a tape', declared ■ ..the new bridge open, and completed the ceremony by unveiling the plaque.

“THE TRIPLETS BIRTHDAY” In replying -to an address of welcome there the Prince said:—“l do not think there is any precedent for the inauguration of three bridges acresg the Thames in one day. The county councils may well be proud of this prolific achievement, and I am glad to be lie-re with the parents to celebrate the triplets’ birthday. After having inspected the three bridges. I congratulate all. those who have shared in the fulfilment of the project. “Apart from their actual use and improvement in communication, they provide better outlets from London for both passenger and commercial traffic. These new bridges also give easier access to this beautiful heritage of the Thames side. They will increase the need for widespread application of those special safeguarding measures that are now at the disposal of town planning. Every new building estate here might be as beautiful as the old village is in the Cotswold Hills from which springs the water which is flowing beneath this very bridge.”

Three hundred members of the Britigh Legion formed Guards cf Honour, selected groups of workmen stood by the bridges they had helpc l to build, and some of the men were presented to His Royal Highness.