Dyfi Bridge

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 carrying the A487 road 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

Pont ar Ddyfi
West side of the bridge
Coordinates52.6005°N 3.8557°W / 52.6005; -3.8557
OS grid referenceSH744019
Carries
CrossesRiver Dyfi
LocaleMachynlleth
Heritage status
Characteristics
Total length64 m (210 ft)
Width5.5 m (18 ft)
No. of spans5
History
Inaugurated1681
Rebuilt1805
Location
Crossing between Powys and Gwynedd

History and description

The 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 Ancient Monument and received a Grade II* heritage listing in 1952.[3]

The present day bridge carries the A487 road across the River Dyfi between Machynlleth (Montgomeryshire/Powys) and the Corris community (Merionethshire/Gwynedd).[1][3] At 5.5 metres in width and 64 metres in length,[1] the bridge has five arches, with the two arches at the Machynlleth end reinforced with modern steelwork.[2]

Future

In 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 sight lines. 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]

References
  1. "Pont ar Ddyfi Bridge, Machynlleth". Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  2. "Machynlleth Bridge; Pont ar Ddyfi". RCAHMW. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  3. "Pont-ar-Dyfi (Partly in Corris community)". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  4. "A487 Fishguard to Bangor Trunk Road: Pont Ar Dyfi Improvement Machynlleth" (PDF). Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency. February 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  5. "A487: new Dyfi bridge". GOV.WALES. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  6. Antony Gedge (8 August 2018). "Concern at 'delays' to new Dyfi Bridge scheme". Cambrian News. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  7. "£46m Dyfi bridge replacement given go-ahead". BBC. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
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