A bascule bridge (also referred to as a drawbridge or a lifting bridge ) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span , or leaf, throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- or double-leafed.
8-557: Walney Bridge , officially Jubilee Bridge , is a bascule bridge in Barrow-in-Furness , Cumbria , England. Completed in 1908, it spans Walney Channel , linking Barrow Island to Walney Island . The bridge carries the A590 trunk road , which has its western terminus on Walney. Talks began in 1897 to how feasible the construction of a bridge connecting Barrow to Walney would be. At the time, Walney residents were frustrated by
16-470: Is now over 100 years old, and in 2008 Cumbria County Council spent £1 million on renovating the bridge and repainting it for its centenary celebration. The bridge is not to be confused with Abbey Road 's Jubilee Bridge, which is also in Barrow and is a Grade II listed structure. Walney Jubilee bridge was often nicknamed by local residents the blue bridge in relation to its colour and to distinguish it from
24-404: The adoption of steam power in the 1850s, very long, heavy spans could not be moved quickly enough for practical application. There are three types of bascule bridge and the counterweights to the span may be located above or below the bridge deck. The fixed- trunnion (sometimes a "Chicago" bascule) rotates around a large axle that raises the span(s). The Chicago bascule name derives from
32-493: The bridge opened much later in 1977. Bascule bridge The name comes from the French term for balance scale , which employs the same principle. Bascule bridges are the most common type of movable span because they open quickly and require relatively little energy to operate, while providing the possibility for unlimited vertical clearance for marine traffic. Bascule bridges have been in use since ancient times, but until
40-599: The fact that they had to use a ferry to traverse the Walney Channel, and they also saw it as an opportunity to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria . When the bridge was finally approved many companies fought for the building contract, with Sir William Arrol & Co. winning it. Construction of the £ 175,000 (in that time) bridge began in mid-1905 and it was finally opened by Barrow mayor Mrs. T.F. Taylor on 30 July 1908. For 27 years Walney bridge
48-457: The location where it is widely used, and is a refinement by Joseph Strauss of the fixed-trunnion. The rolling lift trunnion (sometimes a "Scherzer" rolling lift), raises the span by rolling on a track resembling a rocking-chair base. The "Scherzer" rolling lift is a refinement patented in 1893 by American engineer William Donald Scherzer . The rarer Rall type combines rolling lift with longitudinal motion on trunnions when opening. It
56-657: The other bridge situated on Barrow. These nicknames, however, were ended when in 2008 the bridge was painted gold and black. The bridge celebrated its 100th anniversary with significant renovation and a night of fireworks . The bridge was the link to the fictional island of Sodor , home of Thomas the Tank Engine et al. in The Railway Series books by the Reverend W. Awdry . In the Railway Series,
64-553: Was a toll bridge until 4 April 1935, when the Duchess of York officially renamed it Jubilee Bridge to mark the Silver Jubilee of George V , as recorded on a plaque on the bridge, and handed it to the townspeople. During World War II , the bascule bridge was lifted every night to ensure that anyone who made landfall on Walney was unable to reach Barrow by crossing the bridge and reaching its shipbuilding facilities. The bridge
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