Cleveland Bridge over the River Avon is a Grade II* listed building in the World Heritage Site of Bath, England. It is notable for the unusual lodges that adorn each corner in a style that could be likened to miniature Greek temples.
Location
The bridge links the A4 (London Road) in Walcot on the north side of the Avon, with the A36 in Bathwick, via Bathwick Street at the point where it is joined by St. John's Road.
History
Cleveland Bridge was built in 1826, by William Hazledine (Coalbrookdale Ironworks) with Henry Goodridge as the architect, Major repair work will be carried out in 2021, assisted by £3.5 million of Department for Transport funding, involving the temporary closure of the bridge. During the works more extensive problems were found; the hanger bars uncommon in bridge design, which support the main trusses, were unexpectedly found to be corroded.
Capacity
thumb|Cleveland Bridge during Bath's rush hour
Around the same time that the bridge was freed from toll, heavier vehicles powered by the internal combustion engine were making their way onto the roads. The slender cast iron span of Cleveland Bridge required reinforcement. Four reinforced concrete trusses were inserted under the roadway around 1929, giving it the strength which today allows it to carry 38 tonne trucks. Bath has no eastern bypass, so the bridge has become a heavily used "Euro route" for large trucks on their way from Britain's south coast ports to the docks further north. High volumes of local traffic at peak travelling times make this a regular traffic slow spot in the mornings and evenings, carrying 17,000 vehicles a day.