M4 motorway Usk bridge
Encyclopedia
The M4 motorway Usk bridge (or St. Julians Bridge) carries the M4 motorway
across the River Usk
in the city of Newport
in the United Kingdom
.
In 1989 a further two crossings (east/westbound) were added as a connection from the M4 (at the newly-constructed junction 25a) to the north/southbound A4042
Heidenheim Drive.
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
across the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
in the city of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
- The bridge is actually two separate 450 feet (137.2 m) bridges for the eastbound and westbound carriageways.
- When travelling westbound, the bridges lead directly into the twin 1200 feet (365.8 m) Brynglas TunnelsBrynglas TunnelsThe Brynglas Tunnels carry the M4 motorway under Brynglas Hill in Newport. The twin-bored tunnels were the first tunnels in the British motorway network and are still the only bored tunnels....
. - Work commenced on both the bridge and the tunnels on September 10, 1962, two months after work commenced on the George Street Bridge further downstream.
- The entire Newport bypass section of the M4 (junctions 24 to 28) finally opened in 1967.
In 1989 a further two crossings (east/westbound) were added as a connection from the M4 (at the newly-constructed junction 25a) to the north/southbound A4042
A4042 road
The A4042 is a trunk road that runs from Abergavenny to Newport in the United Kingdom.It begins on junction of the A40 and A465 south of Abergavenny and then travels southwards towards Little Mill north of Pontypool. This section is a single carriageway and is notoriously winding and undulating...
Heidenheim Drive.