The Dyfi Bridge (Welsh: Pont ar Ddyfi), also known as the Machynlleth Bridge, Dovey Bridge, Pont Dyfi or Pont ar Dyfi, is a road bridge across the River Dyfi north of Machynlleth, Powys, Wales. It is described as "one of the finest bridges in Montgomeryshire" by the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.[1]
Dyfi Bridge Welsh: Pont ar Ddyfi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) West side of the bridge | |
| Coordinates | 52°36′02″N 3°51′21″W / 52.6005°N 3.8557°W |
| OS grid reference | SH744019 |
| Carries |  82 Wales Coast Path |
| Crosses | River Dyfi |
| Locale | Machynlleth |
| Heritage status | |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 64 m (210 ft) |
| Width | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
| No. of spans | 5 |
| History | |
| Inaugurated | 1681 |
| Rebuilt | 1805 |
| Location | |
 | |
History and description
editThe bridge was initially a timber bridge, built in 1533 using £6 13s 4d (10 marks) given by London merchant Geoffry Hughes.[1] It was rebuilt in stone in 1681[1] and rebuilt again in 1805.[2] The bridge is a scheduled monument and received a Grade II* heritage listing in 1952.[3]
The bridge carried the A487 road across the River Dyfi between Machynlleth (Montgomeryshire/Powys) and the Corris community (Merionethshire/Gwynedd) prior to the opening of the New Dyfi Bridge upstream, after which it was closed off to vehicular traffic and the access road on the south side downgraded to an unclassified route, serving the adjacent fields, with responsibility for maintenance transferred to the local authorities.[1][3] The bridge has five arches, with the two arches at the Machynlleth end reinforced with modern steelwork.[2] It is 5.5 metres (18 ft) wide and 64 metres (210 ft) long.[1]
New bridge
editIn 2011 a report was drawn up recommending the bridge was replaced or widened because of its strategic importance, as it had unsafe low parapets and a lack of footways, and had been repeatedly damaged by motor vehicles because of its poor sightlines. The recommendations were dismissed in favour of looking at options for a new bridge at a different location.[4]
On 19 May 2017 the Welsh government published a statement that a new bridge would be constructed about 500 m upstream from the current bridge. Work was scheduled to start near the end of 2018 and the completion of the bridge (being ready for traffic) was envisaged in the summer of 2020.[5] The start date was subsequently delayed till at least 2019, with a public enquiry possibly required depending on the results of consultation.[6] On 13 January 2020 the Welsh government announced that there would be no public enquiry, and construction would start in the summer of 2020 with estimated completion in summer 2022.[7] Construction started in spring 2021 and the new bridge, named New Dyfi Bridge (Welsh: Pont Dyfi Newydd), was opened on 2nd February 2024 by Welsh Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters MS to vehicle traffic and pedestrians.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Pont ar Ddyfi Bridge, Machynlleth". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Machynlleth Bridge; Pont ar Ddyfi (24236)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Pont-ar-Dyfi (Partly in Corris community)". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ "A487 Fishguard to Bangor Trunk Road: Pont Ar Dyfi Improvement Machynlleth" (PDF). Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency. February 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ "A487: new Dyfi bridge". GOV.WALES. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ Antony Gedge (8 August 2018). "Concern at 'delays' to new Dyfi Bridge scheme". Cambrian News. Retrieved 30 September 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "£46m Dyfi bridge replacement given go-ahead". BBC. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ "A487: new Dyfi Bridge (overview)". Welsh Government. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Dyfi bridge: New road opens tackling long diversion". BBC News. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
