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Telford, Thomas

Menai Suspension Bridge
Society: ASCEMain Category: CivilSub Category: BridgesEra: 1800-1829DateCreated: 1826Menai BridgeIsle of AngleseyState: WalesCountry: UKWebsite: http://www.asce.org/Project/Menai-Suspension-Bridge/Creator: Telford, Thomas , Hazledine, William

Built between 1819 and 1826, the Menai Bridge was the major structure on Britain's strategically important Holyhead Road connecting London with Holyhead and by sea to Ireland. Designed by Thomas Telford, the bridge's main span was 579 feet from tower to tower, the longest that had ever been attempted at this time. He used four sets wrought-iron eyebars to suspend the deck. These were made by William Hazledine at his Upton forge near Shrewsbury. Each bar was carefully tested in his Coleham shops before being pinned together and lifted into place.

YearAdded:
2002
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Ingy the Wingy (CC BY-ND 2.0)Image Caption: Menai Suspension BridgeEra_date_from: 1826
Caledonian Canal
Society: ASCEMain Category: CivilSub Category: Water TransportationEra: 1800-1829DateCreated: 1804-1822InvernessCountry: ScotlandWebsite: http://www.asce.org/Project/Caledonian-Canal/Creator: Telford, Thomas , Jessop, William

Traversing the Great Glen of the Scottish Highlands for 60 miles the Caledonian Canal connects the North Sea by Beauly and Moray Firth on the east coast with the Irish Sea by Lochs Linnhe and Eil on the west.  Thirty eight miles of the canal pass through freshwater lochs Douchfour, Ness, Oich and Lochy with the remaining 22 miles formed by earth cutting.  Initially 28 locks, and later 29, were required to reach the summit elevation of 106 feet at Loch Oich.  

YearAdded:
2007
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Dave Conner (CC BY 2.0)Image Caption: Caledonian CanalEra_date_from: 1804
Gota Canal
Society: ASCEMain Category: CivilSub Category: Water TransportationEra: 1800-1829DateCreated: 1810 to 1832Götakanal
AleN
GothenburgState: Västra Götaland CountyCountry: SwedenWebsite: http://www.asce.org/Project/Gota-Canal/Creator: von Platen, Baltzer, Telford, Thomas

The Gota Canal is the biggest infrastructure project ever built in Sweden. The canal was dug by hand with shovels made of wood. It took over 22 years of 12-hour days - an estimated 12 million man-days of labor - to complete the project.  

YearAdded:
1998
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Patrick Strandberg (CC BY-SA 2.0)Image Caption: Gota CanalEra_date_from: 1810 to 1832
Craigellachie Bridge
Society: ASCEMain Category: CivilSub Category: BridgesEra: 1800-1829DateCreated: 1814A941AberlourState: MorayZip: AB38Country: UKWebsite: http://www.asce.org/Project/Craigellachie-Bridge/Creator: Telford, Thomas

This elegant cast iron arch bridge designed by Scotland's famous Thomas Telford was built from 1812 to 1814.  It is the earliest surviving example of a portable lattice-braced standard type that Telford developed for use at wide and deep water crossing sites unsuitable for masonry spans.  At least 10 of these bridge types were erected throughout Britain between 1814 and 1829.

YearAdded:
2007
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Graham Robertson (CC BY 2.0)Image Caption: Craigellachie BridgeEra_date_from: 1814
Conwy Suspension Bridge
Society: ASCEMain Category: CivilSub Category: BridgesEra: 1800-1829DateCreated: 1826River ConwyState: North WalesCountry: UKWebsite: http://www.asce.org/Project/Conwy-Suspension-Bridge/Creator: Telford, Thomas

When a new road bridge was constructed alongside it, plans were made to demolish the Conwy Suspension Bridge. There was a national outcry and, since 1958, the bridge has been in the care of the National Trust and closed to vehicular traffic.

YearAdded:
2002
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Verity Cridland (CC BY 2.0)Image Caption: Conwy Suspension BridgeEra_date_from: 1826
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Innovations

Conwy Suspension Bridge

When a new road bridge was constructed alongside it, plans were made to demolish the Conwy Suspension Bridge. There was a national outcry and, since 1958, the bridge has been in the care of the National Trust and closed to vehicular traffic.

Designed by Thomas Telford in the gothic…

Read More
Craigellachie Bridge

This elegant cast iron arch bridge designed by Scotland's famous Thomas Telford was built from 1812 to 1814.  It is the earliest surviving example of a portable lattice-braced standard type that Telford developed for use at wide and deep water crossing sites unsuitable for masonry spans.  …

Read More
Gota Canal

The Gota Canal is the biggest infrastructure project ever built in Sweden. The canal was dug by hand with shovels made of wood. It took over 22 years of 12-hour days - an estimated 12 million man-days of labor - to complete the project.  

The Gota (pronounced yeu-ta) Canal is a 347-…

Read More
Caledonian Canal

Traversing the Great Glen of the Scottish Highlands for 60 miles the Caledonian Canal connects the North Sea by Beauly and Moray Firth on the east coast with the Irish Sea by Lochs Linnhe and Eil on the west.  Thirty eight miles of the canal pass through freshwater lochs Douchfour, Ness, Oich…

Read More
Menai Suspension Bridge

Built between 1819 and 1826, the Menai Bridge was the major structure on Britain's strategically important Holyhead Road connecting London with Holyhead and by sea to Ireland. Designed by Thomas Telford, the bridge's main span was 579 feet from tower to tower, the longest that had ever been…

Read More

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