Laira Bridge

Laira Bridge is a disused railway bridge that crosses the River Plym in the city of Plymouth, Devon, England. In 2015,[1] it was refurbished to carry a pedestrian and cycle path.

East of Plymouth Lines
Yealmpton
Steer Point
Brixton Road
Elburton Cross
Turnchapel
Billacombe
Oreston
Plymstock
Lucas Terrace Halt
to Plymouth Millbay
 (GWR)
and Plymouth Friary
 (LSWR)
Laira Bridge prior to refurbishment

The name is also used to refer to the road bridge that runs alongside and carries the A379 road.[2]

History

The bridge carried the London and South Western Railway branch to Turnchapel over the River Plym in Devon. Later the Great Western Railway also had running powers over the bridge providing access to their Yealmpton branch at Plymstock. The bridge was built by Messrs Relf and Pethick after being authorised by an act of parliament in 1883. It was completed by 1887, and was opened in July 1892.

Passenger trains ceased to use it when the passenger services to Turnchapel and Yealmpton were terminated in the 1950s but the bridge remained in use to serve the Associated Portland Cement works. It finally closed to traffic in the 1990s.[3]

Refurbishment as a cycle and pedestrian bridge

In 2015, the bridge was restored at a cost of £3.5 million in order to turn it into a cycle and pedestrian pathway. The work was due for completion by Spring 2015.[4] Phase 1 was completed in May 2015.[1] The path will link into existing footpaths and cycleways including Route 27 of the National Cycle Network. The bridge will link existing off road cycle paths which join Devonport and Stonehouse in the west to Plymstock and Plympton in the east.[5] Funding came from a number of sources including a £750,000 developer contribution from the Saltram Meadow development[6] and from the government's local sustainable transport fund.[7]

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References
  1. "Laira Rail Bridge Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme". Plymough City Council Website. Plymouth City Council. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  2. "Laira Bridge". Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2012.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  3. "Laira Bridge". Our Transport Heritage. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. Applin, Laura. "PICTURES: Rusty old Laira Rail Bridge being transformed into cycle route". Plymouth Herald. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  5. "Laira Rail Bridge Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme". Plymouth City Council Website. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  6. Rossiter, Keith (13 January 2014). "Cyclists set to get green light on Laira Bridge". Plymouth Herlad. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  7. "Plymouth's Laira Bridge to become new cycling route". BBC News website. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.

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