Humber Bridge

The Humber Bridge is a suspension bridge in northern England spanning the Humber estuary between Hessle and Barton-upon-Humber. Opened in 1981, it was the world’s longest single-span suspension bridge until 1998.

Suspension bridge: A bridge whose deck hangs from main cables supported by towers and anchored at each end. The Humber Bridge carries its roadway from cables draped over two towers.
Humber Bridge Act 1959: A British act of Parliament authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Humber. The act established the legal basis for building the crossing eventually completed in 1981.
Hessle: A town in the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank of the Humber estuary. The Humber Bridge’s northern landing is beside Hessle.
Severn Bridge: A suspension bridge opened in 1966 across the River Severn between England and Wales. Its earlier long-span design provides a British predecessor to the Humber crossing.
Main cable: A large cable that carries a suspension bridge’s deck loads to its towers and anchorages. The bridge’s two main cables support vertical suspenders and transfer load to the anchorages.
Humber Bridge Board: The statutory body responsible for managing the Humber Bridge and its associated finances. The board oversaw construction and later managed the bridge and its tolls.
Barton-upon-Humber: A town in North Lincolnshire on the south bank of the Humber estuary. The bridge connects the north bank to Barton-upon-Humber on the south.
Great Belt Bridge: A combined road-and-rail fixed link across the Great Belt in Denmark, including a long-span suspension bridge. Its East Bridge surpassed the Humber Bridge’s single-span length when it opened in 1998.
Bridge tower: A vertical structure that supports the main cables of a suspension bridge. Two reinforced-concrete towers carry the Humber Bridge’s main cables across the estuary.
Freeman Fox & Partners: A British engineering consultancy known for designing major bridges and other infrastructure. The firm designed the Humber Bridge, with Sir Ralph Freeman among its leading engineers.

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Kingston upon HullRelated: The bridge improved road connections between Hull and southern England.