How was the Clifton Suspension Bridge constructed?

from Clifton Suspension Bridge To begin building a crossing over the River Avon, hemp ropes were taken down the side of the gorge, across the river by boat and pulled up the other side. These ropes were used to haul six wire cables across the Gorge, which were planked across and bound with iron hoops, making a footway.

What materials were used on the Clifton Suspension Bridge?

Materials The chains and suspension rods are made of wrought iron. The piers (towers) are built principally of local Pennant stone.

What type of bridge is the Clifton Suspension Bridge?

Suspension bridgeClifton Suspension Bridge / Bridge typeA suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. The first modern examples of this type of bridge were built in the early 1800s. Simple suspension bridges, which lack vertical suspenders, have a long history in many mountainous parts of the world. Wikipedia

How was the bridge made?

When bridges requiring piers are built over a body of water, foundations are made by sinking caissons into the riverbed and filling them with concrete. Caissons are large boxes or cylinders that have been made from wood, metal, or concrete. In the case of suspension bridges, towers are built atop the caissons.

How long did it take to build Clifton Suspension Bridge?

Brunel described the bridge as ‘my first child, my darling’, and the ingenious bridge, which took 33 years to complete, marked the beginning of a great engineering career. Traversing the Avon Gorge, Clifton Suspension Bridge has become a highly recognisable structure that is one of Bristol’s top tourist attractions.

What is special about the Clifton Suspension Bridge?

Clifton Suspension Bridge is one of Bristol’s most recognisable structures. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it marks a turning point in the history of engineering and has come to symbolise a city of original thinkers and independent spirit.

How do they build bridges over water?

For most bridges built over deep water, construction crews must build cofferdams or lower caissons into the water to create a dam and platform for the concrete towers to stand on. Lakes and riverbeds can be unstable, so crews may need to drive piles deep into the earth to achieve stability.