Mr Celine
Discordian
- Location
- Waxing my moustache
In one of his last public acts before his death in 1832 Sir Walter Scott opened the Rink Bridge which carried the new Galashiels to Selkirk turnpike road across the River Tweed. This bridge, and an almost identical twin across the Ettrick Water half a mile to the south west at Lindean, carried all the road traffic on what became the A7 until both bridges and the road joining them were superseded in 1977 by a new bridge and road alignment. The Lindean Bridge was required for access so remained a public road and continued to be maintained, whilst the Rink Bridge had bollards placed at both ends and was in effect abandoned.
It continued to be used by cyclists, walkers and horseriders and eventually became part of an official cycle route. However, after 145 years of increasing traffic followed by 35 years of neglect it was showing signs of decay. Water penetration had caused the spandrel walls to bulge, which lead to large longitiudinal cracks appearing in the carriageway letting even more water in and causing further damage. Signs were placed warning of a dangerous structure and barriers placed to prevent its use, though both measures were completely ignored by everyone. There followed a lengthy argument between the Council, the landowners and the Scottish Government over who was responsible for maintaining the bridge. The latter eventually agreed to pick up the tab, but apart from some emergency shoring up of the flood relief arch which was in danger of collapse nothing happened for another 3 years.
In June 2016 a sign stating the bridge was closed for 69 weeks appeared, together with some proper effective barriers to back this up. The diversion route was a choice of the A7 or the very bumpy narrow footpath beside it.
By December the temporary shoring, centering, scaffolding and cofferdams were complete.
and work had started to remove the papapet walls and the road surface.
Due to further deterioration which had occured while all the arguing had been going on it was discovered that both main arches were now also in danger of collapse. All of the infill above the masonry arches had to be removed and a reinforced concrete saddle constructed to take the structural loads.
It's been nearly finished for weeks, with just the clearing up to do - but on this afternoon's ride
it's open again - now with proper road markings and bollards.
The original coping stones have been replaced on the parapet.
This is, of course, more of a restoration of a historical landmark than a cycling facility, but this hasn't stopped correspondence in the local papers moaning about all this money being spent on a few cyclists.
At £3,000,000 for a cycle lane about 50m long this is quite expensive. Anyone got any other candidates?
It continued to be used by cyclists, walkers and horseriders and eventually became part of an official cycle route. However, after 145 years of increasing traffic followed by 35 years of neglect it was showing signs of decay. Water penetration had caused the spandrel walls to bulge, which lead to large longitiudinal cracks appearing in the carriageway letting even more water in and causing further damage. Signs were placed warning of a dangerous structure and barriers placed to prevent its use, though both measures were completely ignored by everyone. There followed a lengthy argument between the Council, the landowners and the Scottish Government over who was responsible for maintaining the bridge. The latter eventually agreed to pick up the tab, but apart from some emergency shoring up of the flood relief arch which was in danger of collapse nothing happened for another 3 years.
In June 2016 a sign stating the bridge was closed for 69 weeks appeared, together with some proper effective barriers to back this up. The diversion route was a choice of the A7 or the very bumpy narrow footpath beside it.
By December the temporary shoring, centering, scaffolding and cofferdams were complete.
and work had started to remove the papapet walls and the road surface.
Due to further deterioration which had occured while all the arguing had been going on it was discovered that both main arches were now also in danger of collapse. All of the infill above the masonry arches had to be removed and a reinforced concrete saddle constructed to take the structural loads.
It's been nearly finished for weeks, with just the clearing up to do - but on this afternoon's ride
it's open again - now with proper road markings and bollards.The original coping stones have been replaced on the parapet.
This is, of course, more of a restoration of a historical landmark than a cycling facility, but this hasn't stopped correspondence in the local papers moaning about all this money being spent on a few cyclists.
At £3,000,000 for a cycle lane about 50m long this is quite expensive. Anyone got any other candidates?
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