Longbridge

The original Bideford bridge is built in oak on rough stone foundations. It lasted for roughly 200 years, though with numerous repair and replacement works necessary on the timer structure.

Masonry arches are built around the old timber bridge so that traffic could continue while the timber structure was replaced. This explains also the varying span lengths of the current bridge as they correspond to the old timber structure where the spans were determined by the length of the timber lintels used.

The bridge is widened by adding semi-circular arches against the old spandrel walls. The final road width was 2.74 meters with sidewalks on either side of 0.61 meter width.

Steel brackets resting on stone corbels are added. The corbels rest on the extreme edges of the cutwaters and support steel plate girders. A cast iron parapet is added for decoration. Works last 2 years and result in the widening of the roadway to 4.5 meters. Sidewalks are increased to 1.37 meters each.

The bridge is again widened by adding reinforced concrete beams and deck slabs supported from corbels projecting from the piers. The previous steel beams are removed. The total road width increases to 4.88 meters and sidewalks to 2.13 meters each.

Pier number 23 on the western end of the bridge collapses, although the deck remains in place unsupported. The subsequent rehabilitation works include the reconstruction of the collapsed pier and arches, as well as the adjoining pier. The roadway over the western three arches is reconstructed in the shape of a bellmouth and the width of the roadway on the entire bridge is increased to 5.5 meters. The sidewalk widths are reduced accordingly.

After a bridge inspection a 3 tonne weight limit is imposed on all vehicles intending to cross the bridge.