On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:50:28 +0000, Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:

I've seen a few Bailey bridges dotted around the UK, and I
distinctly
recall the first one I encountered in 1962ish was on a road just
south
of Ayr. It was still there a few years ago,

Ah but was it purposely put there as a permenant bridge or put
there
as a short term, emergancy, measure when the orginal bridge
collapsed/was washed away?

The story I heard at the time (1962, from my Dad) was it was supposed to
be temporary, but it deteriorated so little and took minimal maintenance
it just got left in place as it was cheap and doing a good job.

Sounds just like Langwathby Bridge. There were a few attempts to get
money from the millenium fund to replace it but it never happend. TBH
it's strong enough for the traffic and it's not a very busy road so
the lights aren't a problem either. Less so since the 2005 flood and
they replaced the simple timed sequence set with ones with microwave
senors to detect vechicles still on the bridge(*) and approaching
stuff.

(*) Drivers of artics who didn't know the road/bridge could some
times mess up getting the trailer aligned with the bridge, which is
only just wide enough, on the hard left turn that is required to get
onto the bridge.

--
Cheers
Dave.