The UK is home to many incredible bridges, making it easy for travellers to explore different parts of the nation. Many of the structures are hundreds of years old, holding decades of cultural heritage and history in their foundations. Though this one in particular is special, as it was the world’s first road suspension bridge to begin construction in 1819, and when finally opened in 1826, it was the longest in the world until the Brooklyn Bridge overtook it in 1883.
The Menai Suspension Bridge, which stretches across the Menai Strait that connects the North Wales mainland and the island of Anglesey, was designed by Thomas Telford for an important reason.
The 1,368 ft bridge was built to improve connections between London and Holyhead port, which was crucial for mail and passenger travel to Dublin.
The construction of the bridge followed the 1800 Act of Union with Ireland, which united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom.
At the time, the bridge was an alternative to the dangerous ferry crossings that linked Dublin and London. Though William Day, a retired civil engineer and North Wales resident, said that it « would have been jaw-dropping » for people at the time to see the infamous and « beautiful » bridge being built, reports CNN Travel.
And 200 years later, the bridge remains a national icon, cherished for its architectural beauty and its place in history.
Kerry Evans, a Chartered engineer who works on upkeeing the bridge, says that there is « a huge emotional attachment to the bridge » among local communities.
Not only that, but the bridge is a point of pride for those in North Wales, especially since it was the first bridge of its kind to be built in the world.
She also noted that after the pandemic, the bridge became a symbol of « freedom, connectivity, family » as people were able to travel again.
Despite the crossing being part of many drivers’ daily journeys, many people consider it an icon that has been around for generations and marked a pioneering feat of engineering not only for Wales but for the world.
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