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{{Use British English|date=June 2013}} | {{Use British English|date=June 2013}} | ||
{{Infobox bridge | {{Infobox bridge | ||
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| closed = | | closed = | ||
| toll = | | toll = | ||
| |
| coordinates = {{coord|50.915|-1.386|display=inline,title}} | ||
⚫ | | |
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| map_type = United Kingdom Southampton | |||
| preceded = ] | | preceded = ] | ||
| followed = ] | | followed = ] | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
{{Infobox UK legislation | |||
⚫ | Prior to the construction of the Northam Bridge, the southernmost bridge across the River Itchen was at ].<ref name='bend'>{{cite book | last = Holt | first = John |
||
|short_title = {{visible anchor|Northam Bridge and Approaches Act 1798}} | |||
|type = Act | |||
|parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom | |||
|long_title = An Act for building a bridge over the River Itchin at or near Northam within the liberties the Town of Southampton, and for the making of a road from the said Town to the said bridge, and from thence to communicate with the road leading from West End to Botley in the County of Southampton. | |||
|year = 1798 | |||
| citation = ]. c. lxiv | |||
|introduced_commons = | |||
|introduced_lords = | |||
|territorial_extent = Town of ] | |||
|royal_assent = 21 June 1798 | |||
|commencement = | |||
|repeal_date = | |||
|amendments = | |||
|repealing_legislation= ] | |||
|replaces = | |||
|related_legislation = | |||
|status = Repealed | |||
|original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/gbla/Geo3/38/64/enacted | |||
|legislation_history = | |||
|revised_text = | |||
|use_new_UK-LEG = | |||
|statute_book_chapter = | |||
⚫ | | collapsed = yes | ||
}} | |||
⚫ | Prior to the construction of the Northam Bridge, the southernmost bridge across the River Itchen was at ].<ref name='bend'>{{cite book | last = Holt | first = John |author2=Anne Cole | title = A bend in the River | publisher = Bitterne Local History Society |date = February 1992| location = Southampton }}</ref> Mansbridge was the lowest crossing point of the river until the early 18th century, when the Itchen Ferry began operating between ] and ], downriver of Northam.<ref name='bend' /> | ||
The Northam Bridge was the idea of David Lance, who acquired land in ] and built Chessel House there in 1796.<ref name='bend' /> Realising that access to his land was poor, he encouraged the building of a bridge linking Bitterne Manor to Northam, together with roads from the bridge to ] and a further bridge over the ] in ] (and onwards to ]), with the ] between the Bursledon and Botley roads passing close to Chessel House.<ref name='bend' /> The Northam Bridge Company was formed in 1796, funded mainly by Portsmouth businessmen.<ref name='bend' /> | The Northam Bridge was the idea of David Lance, who acquired land in ] and built Chessel House there in 1796.<ref name='bend' /> Realising that access to his land was poor, he encouraged the building of a bridge linking Bitterne Manor to Northam, together with roads from the bridge to ] and a further bridge over the ] in ] (and onwards to ]), with the ] between the Bursledon and Botley roads passing close to Chessel House.<ref name='bend' /> The Northam Bridge Company was formed in 1796, funded mainly by Portsmouth businessmen.<ref name='bend' /> | ||
The new route between Portsmouth and Southampton would be four miles (6 km) shorter than travelling via Mansbridge, and as a result the proposal to improve transport between the two important port cities was keenly supported by the ], especially since this was the time of the ].<ref name='bend' /> Consequently, when the Northam Bridge Company sought an ] to build a bridge, the Act was passed quickly.<ref name='bend' /> | The new route between Portsmouth and Southampton would be four miles (6 km) shorter than travelling via Mansbridge, and as a result the proposal to improve transport between the two important port cities was keenly supported by the ], especially since this was the time of the ].<ref name='bend' /> Consequently, when the Northam Bridge Company sought an ] to build a bridge, the '''{{visible anchor|Northam Bridge, Hampshire (Improvement) Act 1796}}''' (]. c. 94) was passed quickly.<ref name='bend' /> | ||
] | ] | ||
The new roads and bridges were built in 1799, and were originally operated as ]s. The first Northam Bridge was of wooden construction.<ref name='bend' /> |
The new roads and bridges were built in 1799, and were originally operated as ]s. The first Northam Bridge was of wooden construction.<ref name='bend' /> | ||
The Northam Bridge Company spent 1834 and 1885 putting much effort into opposing first the construction of a swing bridge further down the Itchen |
The Northam Bridge Company spent 1834 and 1885 putting much effort into opposing first the construction of a swing bridge further down the Itchen and then construction of the ].<ref name=Patterson169 /> In the case of the former they were successful; in the latter they were not.<ref name=Patterson169>{{cite book |last=Patterson |first=A. Temple |date=1966 |title=A History of Southampton 1700–1914 Vol.I An Oligarchy in Decline 1700–1835|publisher=The University of Southampton |pages=169–171}}</ref> The Northam Bridge company responded to the opening of the Woolston Floating Bridge by reducing their tolls by three quarters.<ref name=adams17>{{cite book |last=Brian |first=Adams |date=1977 |title=The missing link : The story of the Itchen Bridge |publisher=Southampton City Council |page=17|isbn=<!--X000002763 --> }}</ref> | ||
The wooden Northam Bridge |
The wooden Northam Bridge was replaced in 1889 by an iron bridge<ref name="pc">{{cite web | ||
{{cite web | |||
|url=http://www.plimsoll.org/resources/SCCLibraries/3265.asp | |url=http://www.plimsoll.org/resources/SCCLibraries/3265.asp | ||
|title=Northam Bridge Approach |
|title=Northam Bridge Approach – PortCities Southampton | ||
|publisher= |
|publisher=plimsoll.org | ||
| |
|access-date=2008-03-11 | ||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024126/http://www.plimsoll.org/resources/scclibraries/3265.asp | |||
|last= | |||
|archive-date=4 March 2016 | |||
|first= | |||
|url-status=usurped | |||
}}</ref> at a cost of £9,000.<ref name=adams /> | }}</ref> at a cost of £9,000.<ref name=adams /> | ||
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|title=Southampton Corporation Transport: 1898-1986 | |title=Southampton Corporation Transport: 1898-1986 | ||
|publisher=Peter Gould | |publisher=Peter Gould | ||
| |
|access-date=2008-03-11 | ||
|last=Gould | |last=Gould | ||
|first=Peter | |first=Peter | ||
}} | }} | ||
</ref> It was this change of ownership that allowed the first ] route across the River Itchen to be established in Southampton; Southampton Corporation decided against extending the existing ] lines across the bridge, opting instead to establish a ] service.<ref name="gould" /> | </ref> The bridge cost the council £79,238 after arbitration.<ref name=adams31>{{cite book |last=Brian |first=Adams |date=1977 |title=The missing link : The story of the Itchen Bridge |publisher=Southampton City Council |page=31 |isbn=<!--X000002763 --> }}</ref> It was this change of ownership that allowed the first ] route across the River Itchen to be established in Southampton; Southampton Corporation decided against extending the existing ] lines across the bridge, opting instead to establish a ] service.<ref name="gould" /> On 18 March 1941 the bridge was damaged during an air raid.<ref name=rance168>{{cite book |last=Rance |first=Adrian |date=1986 |title=Southampton An Illustrated History |publisher=Milestone Publications |page=168 |isbn=0903852950 }}</ref> | ||
]) bank]] | ]) bank]] | ||
The iron bridge was replaced in 1954 with a third bridge, made of ], and it is this bridge that still stands today.<ref name="bridgehistory">{{cite web | The iron bridge was replaced in 1954 with a third bridge, made of ], and it is this bridge that still stands today.<ref name="bridgehistory">{{cite web | ||
|url=http://www.cbdg.org.uk/intro2.asp | |url = http://www.cbdg.org.uk/intro2.asp | ||
|title=History of Concrete Bridges | |title = History of Concrete Bridges | ||
|publisher= |
|publisher = cbdg.org.uk | ||
| |
|access-date = 2013-10-11 | ||
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131214041313/http://www.cbdg.org.uk/unknown.asp | |||
|last= | |||
|archive-date = 14 December 2013 | |||
|first= | |||
|url-status = dead | |||
}}</ref><ref name="pc" /> The third Northam Bridge was the first major prestressed concrete road bridge to be built in the UK<ref name="bridgehistory" /> and cost £600,000. However this figure included the ] of land and about {{convert|2000|ft|m}} of embankment construction as well as the bridge construction itself.<ref name=adams /> | |||
In January 2015 the bridge was partially closed to allow waterproofing work to be carried out at a cost of £1.2m as part of a national £317m programme of works dubbed the "pinch-point programme".<ref>{{Cite news|url = |
In January 2015 the bridge was partially closed to allow waterproofing work to be carried out at a cost of £1.2m as part of a national £317m programme of works dubbed the "pinch-point programme".<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-30491129|title = Southampton travel delays as Northam Bridge repairs begin|publisher = BBC News|access-date = 2015-01-06}}</ref> | ||
==Construction and dimensions== | ==Construction and dimensions== | ||
The parapets of the first (wooden) bridge were {{convert|24|ft|m}} apart, as were those of its wrought-iron successor.<ref name=adams>{{cite journal|last1=Adams|first1=H.C.|author2=C W Pike|author3=D H Lee|author4= F I Childs|author5= G O Kee|author6= A Goldstein|author7= J R Lowe|author8= A D Holland|author9=Wooldridge|author10=J Cuerel|author11= HAUCH| |
The parapets of the first (wooden) bridge were {{convert|24|ft|m}} apart, as were those of its wrought-iron successor.<ref name=adams>{{cite journal|last1=Adams|first1=H.C.|title=Discussion. New Northam Bridge, Southampton|author2=C W Pike|author3=D H Lee|author4= F I Childs|author5= G O Kee|author6= A Goldstein|author7= J R Lowe|author8= A D Holland|author9=Wooldridge|author10=J Cuerel|author11= HAUCH|journal= Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers|date=1 May 1955|volume=4|issue=3|pages=290–298|doi=10.1680/iicep.1955.11382|url=http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/docserver/fulltext/iicep.1955.11382.pdf?expires=1336999923&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=AEED157796EB8D4927162E6984E6E0C3|access-date=14 May 2012}}</ref> | ||
The third bridge utilised the latest technology available at the time but the style of the bridge was of the pre-] era.<ref name="sutherland">{{cite book|last=Sutherland|first=R. J. M.|author2=Dawn Humm |author3=Mike Chrimes |title=Historic Concrete|publisher=Thomas Telford|year=2001|isbn=0-7277-2875-X|url= |
The third bridge utilised the latest technology available at the time but the style of the bridge was of the pre-] era.<ref name="sutherland">{{cite book|last=Sutherland|first=R. J. M.|author2=Dawn Humm |author3=Mike Chrimes |title=Historic Concrete|publisher=Thomas Telford|year=2001|isbn=0-7277-2875-X|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GTjW1lZeYwgC&dq=Northam+Bridge&pg=PA261}}</ref> The main deck structure has ] ]s and narrowly spaced beams, which were pre-cast on site using deflected cables.<ref name="sutherland" /> Pre-cast, pre-stressed slabs, known as ''junction slabs'' or ''continuity slabs'', were placed between the tops of the beams by transverse stressing over a length where the flanges of the tees were removed.<ref name="sutherland" /> These, together with ] diaphragms between the ends of the beams, allowed the deck structure to be made continuous for live and superimposed loads.<ref name="sutherland" /> After the junction slabs were in place, the main beams were post-tensioned through the diaphragms.<ref name="sutherland" /> | ||
The cement used to make the concrete in the bridge was ], which was both cheaper and resulted in less shrinkage than using rapid-hardening cement. It was used in a ratio of 1:1{{frac|1|2}}:3 |
The cement used to make the concrete in the bridge was ], which was both cheaper and resulted in less shrinkage than using rapid-hardening cement. It was used in a ratio of 1:1{{frac|1|2}}:3 – a mix which used more cement than German and British practice at the time – and a water-to-cement ratio of 0.3.<ref name=adams /> | ||
The consulting engineers responsible for the new bridge were ], the same firm used for ] in ] nine years earlier.<ref name=adams /> | The consulting engineers responsible for the new bridge were ], the same firm used for ] in ] nine years earlier.<ref name=adams /> | ||
At mid-span, the bridge is {{convert|44|ft|4|in|m}} wide,<ref name="sutherland" /> 4.7 metres above ] and 9.2 metres above ].<ref name="spung">{{cite web|url=http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/files/spung-sec-2.pdf|title=Southampton Port Users Information & Navigation Guidelines|publisher=Associated British Ports| |
At mid-span, the bridge is {{convert|44|ft|4|in|m}} wide,<ref name="sutherland" /> 4.7 metres above ] and 9.2 metres above ].<ref name="spung">{{cite web|url=http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/files/spung-sec-2.pdf|title=Southampton Port Users Information & Navigation Guidelines|publisher=Associated British Ports|access-date=2008-08-29}}</ref> The bridge is 148 metres long in total, and the supporting piers are up to 32 metres apart.<ref name="hewson">{{cite book|last=Hewson|first=Nigel R.|title=Prestressed Concrete Bridges: Design and Construction|publisher=Thomas Telford|year=2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BrlVKt_hOT0C&dq=%22Northam+Bridge%22+span&pg=PT41|isbn=0-7277-3223-4}}</ref> | ||
==Local |
==Local legend== | ||
The bridge is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a soaking wet young girl. In a local variation of the classic ] urban legend the girl is picked up by police but vanishes from their car before they arrive at the address she has given. Later inquiries at the address reveal she has been dead for several months.<ref name=Legg>{{cite book|last1=Legg|first1=Penny|title=Haunted Southampton|date=2011|publisher=The History Press |
The bridge is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a soaking wet young girl. In a local variation of the classic ] urban legend the girl is picked up by police but vanishes from their car before they arrive at the address she has given. Later inquiries at the address reveal she has been dead for several months.<ref name=Legg>{{cite book|last1=Legg|first1=Penny|title=Haunted Southampton|date=2011|publisher=The History Press|isbn=9780752455198}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{commons}} | {{commons}} | ||
* | *{{usurped|1=}} | ||
{{Buildings in Southampton}} | {{Buildings in Southampton}} | ||
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] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] |
Latest revision as of 14:35, 29 November 2024
Bridge in Northam, Bitterne Manor
Northam Bridge | |
---|---|
Aerial view of the bridge in 2016 | |
Coordinates | 50°54′54″N 1°23′10″W / 50.915°N 1.386°W / 50.915; -1.386 |
Carries | 4 lanes (road) |
Crosses | River Itchen |
Locale | Northam, Bitterne Manor (both in Southampton) |
Maintained by | Southampton City Council |
Preceded by | St Denys Railway Bridge |
Followed by | Itchen Bridge |
Characteristics | |
Total length | 148 metres (485 ft 7 in) |
Width | 13.5 metres (44 ft 3 in) |
Longest span | 32 metres (105 ft 0 in) |
No. of spans | 5 |
Piers in water | 4 |
Clearance above | open-air |
Clearance below | 9.2 meters (30 ft 2.2 in) |
History | |
Construction start | 1796 (original); 1954 (current) |
Construction end | 1799 (original); 1954 (current) |
Opened | 1799 (original); 1954 (current) |
Location | |
The Northam Bridge is a road bridge across the River Itchen in Southampton, England, linking the suburbs of Northam and Bitterne Manor. The current bridge was the first major prestressed concrete road bridge to be built in the United Kingdom. The bridge carries the A3024 road as a dual carriageway, with two lanes on each carriageway.
History
United Kingdom legislationNortham Bridge and Approaches Act 1798 | |
---|---|
Act of Parliament | |
Parliament of the United Kingdom | |
Long title | An Act for building a bridge over the River Itchin at or near Northam within the liberties the Town of Southampton, and for the making of a road from the said Town to the said bridge, and from thence to communicate with the road leading from West End to Botley in the County of Southampton. |
Citation | 38 Geo. 3. c. lxiv |
Territorial extent | Town of Southampton |
Dates | |
Royal assent | 21 June 1798 |
Other legislation | |
Repealed by | Southampton Corporation Act 1928 |
Status: Repealed | |
Text of statute as originally enacted |
Prior to the construction of the Northam Bridge, the southernmost bridge across the River Itchen was at Mansbridge. Mansbridge was the lowest crossing point of the river until the early 18th century, when the Itchen Ferry began operating between Woolston and St Mary's, downriver of Northam.
The Northam Bridge was the idea of David Lance, who acquired land in Bitterne and built Chessel House there in 1796. Realising that access to his land was poor, he encouraged the building of a bridge linking Bitterne Manor to Northam, together with roads from the bridge to Botley and a further bridge over the River Hamble in Bursledon (and onwards to Portsmouth), with the fork between the Bursledon and Botley roads passing close to Chessel House. The Northam Bridge Company was formed in 1796, funded mainly by Portsmouth businessmen.
The new route between Portsmouth and Southampton would be four miles (6 km) shorter than travelling via Mansbridge, and as a result the proposal to improve transport between the two important port cities was keenly supported by the Admiralty, especially since this was the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Consequently, when the Northam Bridge Company sought an act of Parliament to build a bridge, the Northam Bridge, Hampshire (Improvement) Act 1796 (36 Geo. 3. c. 94) was passed quickly.
The new roads and bridges were built in 1799, and were originally operated as toll roads. The first Northam Bridge was of wooden construction.
The Northam Bridge Company spent 1834 and 1885 putting much effort into opposing first the construction of a swing bridge further down the Itchen and then construction of the Woolston Floating Bridge. In the case of the former they were successful; in the latter they were not. The Northam Bridge company responded to the opening of the Woolston Floating Bridge by reducing their tolls by three quarters.
The wooden Northam Bridge was replaced in 1889 by an iron bridge at a cost of £9,000.
The bridge remained a toll bridge until 1929 when the ownership was transferred from the private sector to the Southampton Corporation. The bridge cost the council £79,238 after arbitration. It was this change of ownership that allowed the first bus route across the River Itchen to be established in Southampton; Southampton Corporation decided against extending the existing tram lines across the bridge, opting instead to establish a double-decker bus service. On 18 March 1941 the bridge was damaged during an air raid.
The iron bridge was replaced in 1954 with a third bridge, made of prestressed concrete, and it is this bridge that still stands today. The third Northam Bridge was the first major prestressed concrete road bridge to be built in the UK and cost £600,000. However this figure included the compulsory purchase of land and about 2,000 feet (610 m) of embankment construction as well as the bridge construction itself.
In January 2015 the bridge was partially closed to allow waterproofing work to be carried out at a cost of £1.2m as part of a national £317m programme of works dubbed the "pinch-point programme".
Construction and dimensions
The parapets of the first (wooden) bridge were 24 feet (7.3 m) apart, as were those of its wrought-iron successor.
The third bridge utilised the latest technology available at the time but the style of the bridge was of the pre-war era. The main deck structure has transverse diaphragms and narrowly spaced beams, which were pre-cast on site using deflected cables. Pre-cast, pre-stressed slabs, known as junction slabs or continuity slabs, were placed between the tops of the beams by transverse stressing over a length where the flanges of the tees were removed. These, together with in situ diaphragms between the ends of the beams, allowed the deck structure to be made continuous for live and superimposed loads. After the junction slabs were in place, the main beams were post-tensioned through the diaphragms.
The cement used to make the concrete in the bridge was Ordinary Portland Cement, which was both cheaper and resulted in less shrinkage than using rapid-hardening cement. It was used in a ratio of 1:11⁄2:3 – a mix which used more cement than German and British practice at the time – and a water-to-cement ratio of 0.3.
The consulting engineers responsible for the new bridge were Rendel Palmer & Tritton, the same firm used for Waterloo Bridge in London nine years earlier.
At mid-span, the bridge is 44 feet 4 inches (13.51 m) wide, 4.7 metres above mean high water springs and 9.2 metres above chart datum. The bridge is 148 metres long in total, and the supporting piers are up to 32 metres apart.
Local legend
The bridge is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a soaking wet young girl. In a local variation of the classic vanishing hitchhiker urban legend the girl is picked up by police but vanishes from their car before they arrive at the address she has given. Later inquiries at the address reveal she has been dead for several months.
References
- ^ "History of Concrete Bridges". cbdg.org.uk. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
- ^ Holt, John; Anne Cole (February 1992). A bend in the River. Southampton: Bitterne Local History Society.
- ^ Patterson, A. Temple (1966). A History of Southampton 1700–1914 Vol.I An Oligarchy in Decline 1700–1835. The University of Southampton. pp. 169–171.
- Brian, Adams (1977). The missing link : The story of the Itchen Bridge. Southampton City Council. p. 17.
- ^ "Northam Bridge Approach – PortCities Southampton". plimsoll.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ Adams, H.C.; C W Pike; D H Lee; F I Childs; G O Kee; A Goldstein; J R Lowe; A D Holland; Wooldridge; J Cuerel; HAUCH (1 May 1955). "Discussion. New Northam Bridge, Southampton" (PDF). Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 4 (3): 290–298. doi:10.1680/iicep.1955.11382. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
- ^ Gould, Peter. "Southampton Corporation Transport: 1898-1986". Peter Gould. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- Brian, Adams (1977). The missing link : The story of the Itchen Bridge. Southampton City Council. p. 31.
- Rance, Adrian (1986). Southampton An Illustrated History. Milestone Publications. p. 168. ISBN 0903852950.
- "Southampton travel delays as Northam Bridge repairs begin". BBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- ^ Sutherland, R. J. M.; Dawn Humm; Mike Chrimes (2001). Historic Concrete. Thomas Telford. ISBN 0-7277-2875-X.
- "Southampton Port Users Information & Navigation Guidelines" (PDF). Associated British Ports. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
- Hewson, Nigel R. (2003). Prestressed Concrete Bridges: Design and Construction. Thomas Telford. ISBN 0-7277-3223-4.
- Legg, Penny (2011). Haunted Southampton. The History Press. ISBN 9780752455198.