An ambulance travelling over the Queen Elizabeth II 'Dartford' bridge, from Essex to Kent, UK
Construction of bridge started immediately after the creation of the PFI in 1988. It was designed by German civil engineer Hellmut Homberg (de), and the two main caissons supporting the bridge piers were constructed in the Netherlands. Each caisson was designed to withstand a bridge strike of a ship weighing up to 65,000 tonnes and travelling up to kilometres per hour ( mph) The bridge deck is about 61 metres (200 ft) high, and it took a team of around 56 to assemble its structure. During construction of the approach road, a World War II bomb was found in its path, which required closure of the entire crossing. The bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 October 1991. The total cost of construction was £120 million (£246 million as of 2015), including £30 million (now £58 million) for the approach roads. The proposed name had been simply the Dartford Bridge, but Thurrock residents objected and suggested the Tilbury Bridge, leading to a compromise. At the time of opening, it had the longest cable-stayed span of any bridge in Europe. It is the only bridge across the Thames downstream of Central London to be opened since Tower Bridge in 1894.
Size: 6016px × 4016px
Location: QEII Bridge, Thurrock, Essex, UK
Photo credit: © Avpics / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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