The new blue
and white colour scheme for Windsor Town Bridge following the
2002 repairs and repainting
Improvement plans
Windsor Bridge was closed
to road traffic in April 1970 as cracks had developed in the
supporting cast iron girders. The Windsor
Observer reported in their edition dated
Friday August 10th 2001 that plans for its improvement have been
proposed. As the bridge is a listed building, Grade II, consent
was required before the work could commence.
Barriers restrict
pedestrian access to the sides of Windsor Bridge as doubts
were raised about the strength of the central areas. [June 2001]
For the past few years
pedestrian access has been restricted by unsightly barriers on
Windsor Bridge over the river to Eton because engineers were
concerned about the strength of the bridge which was built in
1823.
Structural repairs were put in place plus parapet
strengthening and an extra handrail. In addition, the roadway
was newly paved in York stone with extra lighting installed,
both on the bridge and from each side, to floodlight the bridge
at night.
Funding for the project was been applied for from
the Heritage Lottery Fund as the costs were expected to be in
the region of £400,000 but the application was not approved.
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council therefore elected to pay
for the restoration themselves.
The restoration is now completed in time for the
Queen's Jubilee celebrations in June 2002 when the Queen will
visit the bridge and unveil a plaque commemorating the refurbishment
on June 3rd at 12.00.
Lighting Failure
One major disappointment following the refurbishment
of the bridge is the appalling and totally inappropriate use
of lighting. This is installed low down beneath the handrails
and point inwards onto the walkway. The effect is that 22 lights
on each side dazzle everyone trying to view the river from the
bridge at night because these lights are directed straight into
the eyes of anyone looking upstream or downstream. The lighting
also destroys any clear views of the castle from this point.
Surely a grave mistake. It is also another example of the growing
'light pollution' on our planet caused by carelessly positioned
lighting. Light that is allowed to shine upwards further reduces
the opportunities to enjoy the beauty of a star-filled sky.
Renovation in progress,
May 2002
More Information
and pictures
The History
of Windsor Bridge
The
Downstream Bridges at Datchet
Histories Home Page
Royal
Windsor Home Page
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us, email Thamesweb.
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