tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470543006314152962.post4615270167733221332..comments2024-03-11T16:49:27.614+00:00Comments on The Happy Pontist: Welsh Bridges: 15. Devil's BridgeThe Happy Pontisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252272118786667592noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470543006314152962.post-26362302038816976472018-11-27T12:54:25.256+00:002018-11-27T12:54:25.256+00:00Just far too busy with work and other tasks right ...Just far too busy with work and other tasks right now!The Happy Pontisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15252272118786667592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470543006314152962.post-4223203673282639022018-11-24T21:43:43.685+00:002018-11-24T21:43:43.685+00:00The Happy Pontilist:
Dear Happy,
Hope all is well ...The Happy Pontilist:<br />Dear Happy,<br />Hope all is well with you, since you haven’t posted for several months. I’ve looked forward to your posts, eagerly. Hope Brexit isn’t the reason. <br />Fred MaurerFredmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02910319936207462825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470543006314152962.post-91554375139272315102018-07-22T21:37:27.883+01:002018-07-22T21:37:27.883+01:00Only a devil can make such a mess :)Only a devil can make such a mess :)Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10677675745628671602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470543006314152962.post-73110451472154692242018-07-22T00:48:18.538+01:002018-07-22T00:48:18.538+01:00Only the other day did I figure out your blogger p...Only the other day did I figure out your blogger persona is based on the French word for "bridge." Looking at the photos of the Welsh Devil's Bridge I have to agree that "the position, appearance and level of the new girders were all entirely unsympathetic to this span's predecessors." It certainly is incongruent, but what were the designers to do? Presumably the girders were added over the top to make the bridge stronger and enable it to carry heavier loads. The ever expanding human population results in many structures that have odd and incongruent additions, and which have the effect of detracting from the original architecture. In this particular case I don't find the girders to be entirely offensive. I like the diamond pattern and the ornamental and perhaps functional perpendicular circular iron connecting the old stone bridge to the new steel. Engineering decisions are based on the materials and technology of the times. In the olden days people were forced to use the materials common to the area. I supposed many of the stones in the original structure were picked out of the agricultural fields or were perhaps found in a nearby talus slope or rock quarry. It obvious that the cheapest most suitable materials that can be easily found nearby will be the material of choice. As for the new girders it's highly possible that they could have been delivered from somewhere in Asia due to the cost. If the decision was based on the idea of creating necessary improvements to an ancient structure, then the mixed race marriage is not totally without sound reasons. The added top girders seem to keep the loads off the old bridge. The girders were probably the easiest and most economical decision. Additionally they certainly offered certain elements of ABC bridge construction. Based on my very limited knowledge of the project and its needs, it seems to be working; it was most likely economical, and it's not totally unaesthetic. If one can easily understand the purpose of certain engineering decisions, the incongruities become more palatable. Therefore, I give this bridge upgrade a pass. That said and alternative could have been to build a reinforced concrete arched girders over the top, and then have faced them with original stone of the same type. Perhaps a talented designer could have made the addition almost imperceptible. It matters little to me, I don't live nearby, and don't know how many people actually look at the underside of this particular bridge anyway. Would all the extra artistic aesthetics been actually worth the extra effort and cost? Apparently the local government didn't think so.GRBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06836950367026369396noreply@blogger.com