Greyhound Bridge

Greyhound Bridge
Coordinates	54°03′N 2°48′W
Crosses	River Lune
Locale	Lancaster, Lancashire
Preceded by	Skerton Bridge
Followed by	Lune Millennium Bridge
History
Opened	1911
Location

The Greyhound Bridge is a road-connection spanning the River Lune as it runs through Lancaster, England. It serves as the primary route northwards, on account of a one-way system that directs all southbound traffic over Skerton Bridge. It is the third bridge to stand on the present site and lies between the Lune Millennium Bridge and Skerton Bridge.

History

The first bridge on the site was constructed out of laminated timber in 1848 to carry the Morecambe Harbour and Railway Company's new railway, linking the adjoining Lancaster Green Ayre railway station to Morecambe Harbour. This was replaced by a wrought-iron viaduct during 1862–64, and again by the third and current bridge in 1911. Material salvaged from the demolition of the second bridge was used in the 1913 reconstruction of what is now the "Old Halton Railway Bridge", further up the River Lune, on the same railway line.

After the closure of the railway in 1966, the Greyhound Bridge was converted for use by road traffic, and since being re-opened in 1972 now serves in excess of 20,000 northbound vehicles a day.

Significance

The structure is notable for its westward curve, onto the northern bank of the River Lune; a feature that has been prominent on the landscape, since at least the wrought-iron second incarnation of the bridge, completed in 1864.

With overhead electrification of the Lancaster–Morecambe Line in 1908, it is very possible that the Greyhound Bridge may have been the first bridge in the United Kingdom to carry electrified rolling stock, owing to it being the only bridge on that section of line.

References

• http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=583 (accessed 7 February 2015)
• http://www.drakkar.co.uk/ch13.pdf (accessed 7 February 2015)