George Street Bridge, Newport

Infobox Bridge

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bridge_name = George Street Bridge
caption = George Street Bridge as seen from the promenade at Powell's Town Wharf on the west bank
official_name = George Street Bridge
locale = Newport
carries = Motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians
crosses = River Usk
maint = Newport City Council
open = 9 April 1964
traffic =
design = Cable-stayed bridge
mainspan = 500 feet (152 metres)
height = 171 feet (52 metres)
width = Four-lane carriageway, two cycle/footpaths (total 84 feet / 25½ metres)

George Street Bridge [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/557837] is a crossing of the River Usk at Newport, South Wales in the United Kingdom.

Opened in 1964

It was opened on April 9 1964 and is the first cable-stayed bridge in the United Kingdom. It is Grade II* listed.

Reason for construction

Before its opening in 1964 the only crossings of the river Usk in central Newport were the Newport Bridge carrying the main A48 road and Newport Transporter Bridge.

Planning

Originally the bridge was planned to be six lanes wide, but with the M4 motorway Usk bridge already planned further upstream it was reduced to four lanes.

Continuing developments

On completion, the A48 route was diverted over the new bridge, making it the preferred route for through traffic, although in 2004 the new City Bridge on the Southern Distributor Road further downstream became the preferred route and assumed the route number.