Britannia Bridge - Final Form*

The road deck was finally added between 1978 and 1980, and now forms part of the A55 North Wales Expressway from Chester to Holyhead.

* Or perhaps not the "Final Form". Take a look at these development proposals for increasing the road capacity, issued in November 2007.

47463 Britannia Bridge 05/05/80 (s2123.jpg)

The road deck nears completion on the 5th May 1980 as 47463 passes on the 17:05 Holyhead-Crewe. The steelwork for the road deck was fabricated in Chepstow and moved by rail to Menai Bridge sidings, and then shunted out onto the bridge for unloading overnight.

Ticket 26/05/80 (ticket001.jpg)

Normally, pedestrians are not allowed onto the road deck, but on 26th May 1980 a charity walk was held across the as yet unopened road bridge. The next two shots were taken on that day.

dmu Britannia Bridge 26/05/80 (s2216.jpg)

A dmu leaves the bridge on a working to Holyhead. In the background stands the Marquis of Anglesey's column.

47437 Britannia Bridge 26/05/80 (s2219.jpg)

Approaching round the curve from the Bangor direction, 47437 hauls the 0918 Crewe to Holyhead service, again on the 26th May 1980. Large crowds were present that day, one or two of whom photographed this train.

47489 Britannia Bridge 28/07/80 (s2261.jpg)

The road deck now completed, 47489 curves off the bridge and on towards Holyhead with the 10:05 train from London. 28th July 1980

40112 Britannia Bridge 24/08/80 (s2290.jpg)

In the darkness under the road deck, 40112 crosses the bridge with the 16:30 Holyhead to Manchester Victoria. New large concrete blocks have been added to protect the road deck supports from any wayward train. 24th August 1980.