The Neath River Bridge
The new bridge between Briton Ferry and Jersey Marine was officially opened by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, the Rt. Hon. John Boyd-Carpenter, M.P., on Monday, the 31st October, 1955.
Built at a cost of approximately £2,000,000, the bridge is regarded as one of the finest in the country, and is a model of modern constructional engineering.
It is about three-quarters of a mile long, and in its width of 90 ft. between the parapets carries a dual carriageway (each 22 feet wide), two cycle tracks, and two footpaths, constituting the biggest Ministry of Transport project for the past 21 years—the last being the Kincardine Bridge in Scotland. In addition to crossing the River Neath it also spans a complex dock and railway system.
The main contractors, the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company, Limited, Darlington have a world-wide reputation, having built the bridge which spans the Zambesi near Victoria Falls, and the King Edward Bridge over the River Tyne at Newcastle.
Started on the 14th February, 1949, when Mr. Alfred Barnes, then Minister of Transport, cut the first sod, the bridge has taken nearly seven years to complete, which is considerably beyond the scheduled time. Delays in its construction have been caused by an unfortunate train of circumstances. First came the suspension of work in 1952 because of the shortage of high tensile steel when steel was diverted to the manufacture of tanks for the rearmament programme, and then long delays through labour difficulties, in particular strikes by spider-men and others.
The construction of the bridge, with its approach roads, will undoubtedly have a very important effect on traffic in the area, and it is estimated that, with the opening of the bridge, the distance between Port Talbot and Swansea will be shortened by six miles. Besides shortening the distance between Port Talbot and Swansea by avoiding Neath and Skewen it will possibly have important effects upon both the Briton Ferry and Jersey Marine sides of the river, especially with the completion of the next stage of the road from the bridge's western approach to link with the present A.48 road at Lonlas so that West Wales traffic will by-pass Swansea as well as Neath.
Part of the Ministry's scheme entailed a road diversion and road improvements from Briton Ferry to Swansea, and portions of the scheme which, up to the present, have been completed at the Bridge between Briton Ferry and Jersey Marine and the dual carriageway road extending from the Jersey Marine or Earlswood side of the bridge as far as the King's Dock level crossing at Swansea. Work is also proceeding on the remainder of the road into the town of Swansea.
Diversion of heavy traffic from the Swansea Docks, away from the built-up areas at Morriston, Skewen and Neath, will undoubtedly create safer conditions on the road, and should consequently help to reduce accidents.
Work on the project has been difficult and hazardous, and it has not been completed without taking its toll of human Life. During the course of erection two workmen lost their lives by falling from the bridge. Two others fell and had remarkable escapes from death. One, a crane driver, whilst working on the centre span of the bridge that crosses the River Neath, slipped and fell 115 feet into the river below, yet after five weeks in hospital and a few weeks' convalescence, returned to his job. The other man, whilst working on the viaduct that spans the main London-Fishguard railway line, fell 28 feet onto the railway line, but managed to roll clear just as the express train thundered by. He too recovered from his injuries.
On another occasion a 10,000 tons cargo ship on its way up the river on a high tide to the ship-breaking yard of Thomas Ward & Co., Ltd., Giant's Grave, collided with the bridge. Fortunately damage to the bridge was negligible but the main mast of the ship snapped "like a carrot" at the base.
The Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company will be responsible for the maintenance of the bridge for the first year, then it becomes the responsibility of the Glamorgan County Council.
C. VAUGHAN, INSPECTOR.
