195:. Additionally two 2.5-metre (8 ft) wide footpaths are provided which cantilever from the bridge. The bridge is constructed in five spans, with a total length of roughly 139 metres (456 ft). The approaches comprise two 27-metre (89 ft) spans, the centre lifting span consists of two triangular leaves that span 23.4 metres (77 ft) between the main bearings to provide a clear channel of 19 metres (62 ft) when open. To permit the passage of boats through the navigation channel, the lift spans were planned to pivot to 88 degrees powered by two
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went ahead in early March 2012. The bridge opened to traffic on 4 April 2012 after the road surface had been relaid, the first motor vehicle crossing at 9.38AM. Problems with the bridge operation continued in the summer of 2012 with delays caused through the barrier operation and lifting mechanism as
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Since early July of 2024, the bridge has been closed due to a major technical fault. The bridge was only meant to be closed for two weeks, however, large technical issues have been found in the bridge, causing it to get stuck regularly. Engineers are looking into this and are working on the bridge
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The bridge continued to be closed down due to technical problems up to 2020. These design issues are apparently caused by a design issue with the bridge as the bridge itself has an unusual design compared to a typical bascule bridge.
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lights. Four 7-metre (23 ft) high pillars housing the barriers, lights, speakers and traffic controls which link the bridge with the control room are located on the two fixed spans adjacent to the lifting section.
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Construction began in May 2010 with completion and opening planned for late
February 2012. Problems with the road surface caused the bridge to remain closed although the opening ceremony and visit by
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and the land owners. After negotiations were settled in August 2009, there was a further delay in the allocation of the £14.14 million government grant which was finally agreed in March 2010.
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which operate up to 15 times per day and take two minutes to fully open. Two 55-metre (180 ft) high masts are fitted to the lifting leaves, the top two metres illuminated with white
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becoming operational once again. However, there is no date for the to be completed, meaning that the bridge will remain in an opened position for all ships to access.
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Construction was awarded the £18.5 million contract for the construction of the bridge. The contract for the supply of around 900 tonnes of steel was awarded to
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In 2019 BCP Council, which Poole
Borough Council was absorbed by, convened an emergency meeting due to the issues with the bridge becoming "unacceptable".
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with one of the bridges always open for vehicular traffic (except during closures for maintenance or in a marine emergency), the intention is that
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will direct traffic to the open bridge. The bridge comprises a 10.8-metre (35 ft) wide carriageway with two vehicular lanes and two separate
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Plans for a new bridge date to the 1980s, with the second lifting bridge concept being suggested in 2000 after a fixed bridge crossing
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as lead design consultants. Metamont Ltd installed marine grade stainless steel balustrade including the variable colour DMX lighting.
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bridge project was given approval in 2006/7 but construction was initially delayed due to a stalemate between the
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The bridge was closed again beginning 16 November 2018 due to a hydraulic issue with its lifting mechanism.
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842:"Part of Twin Sails Bridge snapped during lift - with no word on when it will be fixed"
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155:. The intention is that the bridge will allow development of four major sites, two in
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691:"Report on Twin Sails bridge fault expected early next week, Poole councillor says"
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was cancelled by the government in 1998. The council submitted detailed plans to
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and two in
Hamworthy, including the old power station, which was closed in 1988.
867:"No end in sight to finish disastrous Twin Sails Bridge work, council confirms"
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On 16 January 2023, a section of the bridge snapped due to a technical fault.
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641:"Council demands contractors fix Twin Sails Bridge after series of shutdowns"
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766:"Emergency summit called after the Twin Sails Bridge breaks down... again"
589:"Twin Sails bridge: no solution yet as asphalt removed from road surface"
716:"'We don't know what's wrong or when the Twin Sails bridge will reopen'"
817:"Twin Sails Bridge 'isn't a maintenance problem, it is a design issue'"
741:"Anger at 'lack of information' as major route in Poole remains closed"
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in 2004 and following a public inquiry in 2005, the £37 million
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151:. The bridge provides a second road link from Poole Town Centre to
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666:"Construction firm WILL pay council for Poole Bridge problems"
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The new bridge is intended to operate alongside the existing
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615:"At last: Poole's Twin Sails bridge is to open to traffic"
791:"Poole's Twin Sails Bridge repairs halted after problems"
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The Twin Sails Bridge under construction in
November 2011
322:"Twin Sails Bridge – On Time And on Budget | Poole"
167:The bridge spans the Backwater Channel which links
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262:well as continuing defects in the road surface.
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394:"Twin Sails – Poole's bridge for the future"
300:"Twin Sails Bridge divides opinion in Poole"
445:"Poole's Twin Sails Bridge set for opening"
419:"Twin Sails Bridge rises to the challenge"
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324:. Pooleconservatives.org. 6 December 2012
562:"Go ahead for Poole's Twin Sails Bridge"
918:was invoked but never defined (see the
473:. Road Traffic Technology. 15 June 2011
374:. Road Traffic Technology. 15 June 2011
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897:Borough of Poole – Twin Sails Bridge
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542:. Borough of Poole. 27 January 2011
515:"Twin bridge is given the go-ahead"
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587:Henderson, Diana (21 March 2012).
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943:Buildings and structures in Poole
902:Time lapse of bridge construction
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613:Henderson, Diana (4 April 2012).
914:Cite error: The named reference
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639:Codd, Joanna (12 July 2012).
495:. BBC News. 27 September 2005
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133:The Second Harbour Crossing
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948:Bascule bridges in England
517:. BBC News. 11 August 2006
493:"Inquiry into town bridge"
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958:Bridges completed in 2012
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112:10.8-metre (35 ft)
104:139-metre (456 ft)
18:Bridge in Poole, Dorset
189:variable-message signs
66:50.715282°N 1.992932°W
238:and linking with the
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471:"Twin Sails Bridge"
372:"Twin Sails Bridge"
347:"Twin Sails Bridge"
212:Cleveland Bridge UK
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797:. 11 December 2020
399:. Borough of Poole
259:The Princess Royal
938:Bridges in Dorset
451:. 3 February 2012
425:. 15 October 2011
157:Poole Town Centre
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101:Total length
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675:28 November
546:12 February
455:12 February
356:16 December
193:cycle lanes
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44:Coordinates
932:Categories
851:17 January
572:5 February
566:Daily Echo
521:5 February
499:5 February
477:5 February
449:Daily Echo
429:8 February
423:Daily Echo
403:8 February
378:8 February
328:8 February
306:6 February
302:. BBC News
283:References
248:Twin Sails
216:Gifford UK
54:50°42′55″N
920:help page
236:Holes Bay
169:Holes Bay
153:Hamworthy
57:1°59′35″W
826:28 March
801:28 March
795:BBC News
775:28 March
745:ITV News
598:21 March
163:Location
117:Location
877:27 July
650:27 July
624:4 April
351:Ramboll
252:council
230:History
220:Ramboll
149:England
179:Design
145:Dorset
90:Dorset
82:Locale
540:(PDF)
397:(PDF)
171:with
141:Poole
109:Width
86:Poole
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