The Queen
Elizabeth II Bridge |
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Hover over the image for an enlargement |
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The bridge, which was completed on 7th June 1991 and opened
on the 30 October 1991, is a four-lane cable-stayed bridge, designed
by Dr. Ing Hellmut Homberg and Partner and Kvaerner Technology
Limited. When it was opened it was Europe's largest cable-supported
bridge. The central span is 450m long and is suspended 65m above
the Thames (to accommodate ocean-going cruise liners). The approach
viaducts on the Essex side measure 1,052m and 1,008m on the Kent
side, giving a total length of 2,872m. It has an expected life
span of 120 years. It is a toll bridge and accommodates four
lanes of southbound traffic from the M25. When closed, due to
high winds for example, one of the two adjacent tunnels is used
instead. When built, the Queen Elizabeth II bridge was only the
second bridge on the River Thames east (downstream) of London
Bridge constructed in over a thousand years, and it is currently
the only bridge east of Tower Bridge (the Thames Gateway Bridge
will be the second, when completed). The historic reason for
this is that bridges prohibited tall ships and other large ships
from reaching the Pool of London, which has led to the building
of numerous tunnels instead. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link passes
under the bridge (between the bridge supports) on the north (Essex)
side and tunnels under the river just east of the bridge. More..... |
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