Today’s Treasures – Barmouth Bridge – Pont Abermaw
The Barmouth Bridge is a single-track viaduct crossing the estuary of the Afon Mawddach river on the coast of Cardigan Bay between Morfa Mawddach and Barmouth. There is a footbridge on the landward side allowing pedestrians and cyclists to travel by the side of the railway across the river, on payment of a toll, a distance of about 900 m. The viaduct carries the Cambrian Line, the main line of the former Cambrian Railways, which runs from Shrewsbury to Pwllheli.
The bridge opened in 1867, built by the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway and master-minded by Thomas Savin, a Welsh entrepreneur. Construction was difficult due to the strong currents and, sadly, two men were drowned. It was originally constructed entirely of wood and included a lifting drawbridge section to permit the passage of tall ships. The drawbridge section, at the northern end of the bridge, was rebuilt in 1901 as a swing bridge with two steel spans.
In 1980 there were serious concerns about the safety of the wooden timbers which were suffering from the activity of teredo worms. These small creatures live in salt water and bore holes in timber to secrete their larvae using two miniature wheels in the head which act as boring wheels. (A suspected source of inspiration for Sir Marc Brunel which led to his tunnelling shield used in boring the Thames tunnel.)
The Grade II listed bridge has recently been restored by Network Rail at a cost of £30 million funded by the UK Government, re-opening to travellers in December, 2023. Restoring the iconic bridge, built by Victorian engineers, and replacing decayed timber elements and coroded metal using 21st century methods has been challenging – 20,000 bolts had to be drilled by hand. The bridge is open again to trains so passengers, walkers and cyclists can enjoy the beautiful views across the Mawddach Estuary.
Published in the February edition of the Whitchurch Gossip