Newport, South Wales

Newport Transporter Bridge

Built by a Frenchman Monsieur F Arnodin, the bridge was opened in 1906. The bridge has a
span of 645 feet measured from the centre of each of its towers. The gondola is 33 feet long,
40 feet wide and travels at 10 feet per second and can carry a maximum of 6 cars or small
vans at one time. The whole contrivance is driven by two electric motors. The few other
working transporter bridges in the world can be found in Middlesborough, Rendsburg in
Germany and Portugalete (Vizcaya) in Spain.

The Newport Transporter Bridge crosses the River Usk - this river splits Newport in half.

Newport Transporter Bridge - a closer view of the gondola

Newport Transporter Bridge - control room and gondola

Photographs taken in May 1996 - © Copyright: Richard J Naude

Email the photographer MW1DGA@aol.com