Celtic Gateway Bridge
Coordinates53°18′34″N 4°37′52″W / 53.3095°N 4.6311°W / 53.3095; -4.6311
CarriesPedestrians, Bicycles
CrossesOld Holyhead Harbour, North Wales coastal railway line
LocaleAnglesey, Wales,  United Kingdom
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
MaterialStainless steel
Total length160 metres (520 ft)
Width7 metres (23 ft)
History
Constructed byCimolai
Opened19 October 2006
Location

The Celtic Gateway (Welsh: Porth Celtaidd) is a stainless steel pedestrian and cycle bridge located in Anglesey, Wales. Opened on 19 October 2006 by Andrew Davies AM[1] to better connect Holyhead's railway station and ferry terminal with the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists.[2] The distance between the two was originally 830 metres, including two steep inclines and the crossing of a busy road. A 1991 bridge reduced the distance to 585 metres with one steep incline but with the road crossing still needed.[3] The current bridge has one shallow incline and cuts the distance to 280 metres with no roads to cross.

Crossing the Old Holyhead Harbour, the North Wales coastal railway line and the A5154 (formerly the end of the A5), this 160-metre-long (520 ft), 7-metre-wide (23 ft) structure was built in the futuristic architectural style by the Italian company Cimolai.[4] The whole length of the bridge is wheelchair and pram accessible. The Gateway is further enhanced by a number of artworks. These include: "Sun boats", a series of bronze plaques which have been built into the bridge paving. The sun boat image is derived from the sun-worshipping Celts who believed it travelled across the night sky in a boat; 'Porth Celtaidd - Celtic Gateway' a series of Venetian Glass mosaic by artist Gary Drostle.

References

  1. ↑ Info from the Holy Island website Archived 18 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Info on the bridge and site Archived 22 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Jones, Geraint & Jones Rowlinson, Gwenllian: Anglesey Towns and Villages, page 33. Amberley Publishing, 2015
  4. ↑ Info on the Cimolai website
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