Barmouth Bridge (Pont Abermaw) Undergoes a Major Restoration This well-known structure is now a Grade II* listed structure. It provides a single track on a wooden railway viaduct across the estuary of the Afon Mawddach near Barmouth in north Wales. At 900 yards long, it is the longest timber viaduct in Wales and one of the longest in regular use in Britain and carries the Cambrian line over the river. Barmouth Bridge was designed by and constructed for the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway on its line between Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. Work was authorised in 1861 and commenced in 1864. On 10 October 1867, the completed bridge was officially opened. Following the discovery of severe corrosion on underwater sections of ironwork, an intensive restoration programme was performed between December 1899 and late 1902. By 1980, the viaduct was under attack by marine woodworm, which led to concerns that it would have to be closed and demolished. Because of its value to tourism, it was repaired between
By OLU, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia. org/w/index.php?curid=13127458 20
GREAT WESTERN STAR MAGAZINE
1985 and 1986, a closure of six months; a weight restriction and ban on locomotivehauled trains were also introduced. These restrictions have been relaxed since 2005. The viaduct, between Morfa Mawddach and Barmouth stations in Gwynedd, is used by rail, cyclists and pedestrians and is part of National Cycle Route 8. Tolls were collected for foot and cycle traffic up to 2013 but this has been voluntary since 2017. To allow the passage of tall ships, the bridge incorporated a drawbridge, which was replaced between 1899 and 1902 by a swing bridge, which is no longer operational due to a lack of use. There is no provision for road traffic. The Cambrian Coast Line was operated by Arriva Trains Wales until 2018, and is now operated by Transport for Wales, which provides connecting services north to Pwllheli and east to Machynlleth, Shrewsbury and Birmingham International.
January/February 2021
