Laira Bridge

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Laira Bridge prior to refurbishment Laira Bridge, Plymouth - geograph.org.uk - 58416.jpg
Laira Bridge prior to refurbishment
East of Plymouth Lines
Yealmpton
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Steer Point
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Brixton Road
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Elburton Cross
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Turnchapel
Billacombe
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Oreston
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Plymstock
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Lucas Terrace Halt
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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.

Contents

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

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 bridge reopened in May 2015, [4] linking into existing footpaths and cycleways which join Devonport and Stonehouse in the west to Plymstock and Plympton in the east, [5] including Route 27 of the National Cycle Network. [1] 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. [5]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">A374 road</span> Road in England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway</span>

The Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway (P&DR) was a 4 ft 6 in gauge railway built to improve the economy of moorland areas around Princetown in Devon, England. Independent carriers operated horse-drawn wagons and paid the company a toll. It opened in 1823, and a number of short branches were built in the next few years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth to Yealmpton Branch</span>

The Plymouth to Yealmpton Branch was a Great Western Railway single track branch railway line in Devon, England, that ran from Plymstock to Yealmpton. The line was planned as part of a route to Modbury, but the scheme was cut back to Yealmpton; it opened in 1898, and the passenger train service ran from Plymouth Millbay, but road competition led to declining usage and the passenger service was withdrawn in 1930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turnchapel Branch</span> Railway line in Devon, England

The Turnchapel Branch was a London and South Western Railway (LSWR) single track branch railway line in Devon, England, that ran from Plymouth Friary station to Turnchapel. It crossed the River Plym and opened up the east side of the river to rail connections. The short line opened in 1892 and 1897 (throughout). It closed in 1951 to passengers, and in 1961 completely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exeter–Plymouth line</span> Railway line in Devon, England

The Exeter–Plymouth line, also called the South Devon Main Line, is a central part of the trunk railway line between London Paddington and Penzance in the southern United Kingdom. It is a major branch of the Great Western Main Line and runs from Exeter St Davids to Plymouth, from where it continues as the Cornish Main Line. It was one of the principal routes of the Great Western Railway which in 1948 became part of the Western Region of British Railways and is presently operated by Network Rail.

References

  1. 1 2 "Laira Rail Bridge Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme". Plymouth City Council Website. Plymouth City Council. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  2. "Laira Bridge". Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "Laira Bridge". Our Transport Heritage. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. "Laira Rail Bridge re-opens | The Devon Daily". www.thedevondaily.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Plymouth's Laira Bridge to become new cycling route". BBC News. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  6. Rossiter, Keith (13 January 2014). "Cyclists set to get green light on Laira Bridge". Plymouth Herlad. Retrieved 22 June 2014.


50°22′09″N4°06′30″W / 50.36909°N 4.10845°W / 50.36909; -4.10845