Reading Festival bridge

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Reading Festival bridge
Reading Festival Bridge.jpg
The original Reading Festival bridge in 2008
Coordinates 51°28′02″N1°00′43″W / 51.4671°N 1.012°W / 51.4671; -1.012
Crosses River Thames
Locale Reading
Characteristics
No. of spans1
Clearance below 17 feet 6 inches (5.33 m) [1]
History
OpenedLast weekend of August annually
Location
Reading Festival bridge

The Reading Festival bridge is an occasionally present footbridge over the River Thames at Reading in the English county of Berkshire. When present, the bridge links the site of the Reading Festival, on the south bank of the river, with certain camp sites and car parking on the north bank. It is within the security perimeter of the festival so limited to festival goers. [2]

It has permanent footings and was first erected for Reading Festival goers of 2008 for £1 million. The intention was that the deck and steps/slope would be dismantled and stored for most of the year, being re-erected for future festivals. It replaced a ferry service, which caused complaints over excessive queues. [2] [3]

The bridge crosses the river from the western end of the main site, in the Borough of Reading which is 200 m (660 ft) east of Scours Lane. The northern end of the bridge lies in the Oxfordshire civil parish of Mapledurham, on land leased from the Mapledurham Estate. Like the main festival site, the northern camp site and car park is pasture for most of the year.

The wider bridge (used since 2009) at the 2021 festival Reading Festival Bridge (2021).jpg
The wider bridge (used since 2009) at the 2021 festival

For 2009, a wider bridge with improved aesthetics was built with little disruption to river traffic. Only a single two-hour river closure order was needed for installing; and the same for removing. The work was carried out at the bridge site.

See also

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References

  1. "[Withdrawn] Reading Festival temporary bridge 2021: river closure notice". GOV.UK. Environment Agency. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Reading festival bridge to open". BBC. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  3. "New bridge for music festival fans". Associated Press. Retrieved 18 August 2008.[ dead link ]
Next bridge upstream River Thames Next bridge downstream
Whitchurch Bridge Reading Festival bridge
Grid reference SU686747
Caversham Bridge

Coordinates: 51°28′02″N1°00′43″W / 51.467149°N 1.012008°W / 51.467149; -1.012008