Footpath over the Orwell Bridge ?

[Malish]

Forgive the slightly non-boaty post. I saw on a Suffolk site a walk that includes the crossing of the Orwell Bridge on foot... Is there a footpath? I've never seen anyone crossing on foot as I have driven across, is the path hidden from the drivers view?

 

[Tradewinds]

Google says yes. Which is probably correct as there is a sign & telephone at the beginning of the walkway where one can contact the Samaritans should you need help.

Not the best place to walk IMO.

 

[Major_Clanger]

Yes, you can walk over the bridge in either direction and on either side. It's best not to stop and loiter though as someone will probably call the police.

Last time I walked it was to see the old power station chimneys come down.

 

[Tradewinds]

 

[Snowgoose-1]

I have done it when visiting Fox's.

I would not recommend it. You are very close to the traffic which creates the wind and noise from fast moving lorries and cars.

 

[Malish]

thanks all I agree with your thoughts about the route

 

[MikeBz]

I remember a neighbour of mine who worked on the construction of the bridge telling me that he was the first person to walk across - when the connection was first made between the east and west structures. There was just a single beam with no protection etc. The workers on the east side asked him where he had come from and didn't believe him. A slightly tall story I suspect, but the thought of it makes my palms sweat.

 

[Egret]

Walked through inside on a site visit.

Very elegant design - only cost £23 million

 

[Cobra]

I remember a neighbour of mine who worked on the construction of the bridge telling me that he was the first person to walk across - when the connection was first made between the east and west structures. There was just a single beam with no protection etc. The workers on the east side asked him where he had come from and didn't believe him. A slightly tall story I suspect, but the thought of it makes my palms sweat.

Not 'Fenland Fin' by any chance Mike?

 

[wingdiver]

Being based locally, I have walked over many times. As said, it is quite scary with lorries going past you very close at 60mph!
I think the new waling route joins up the England Coast Path on the Western side at Orwell Country Park to the Eastern side by Suffolk Food Hall going via the Ipwich Waterfront rather than over the bridge.

 

[Seashoreman]

Here is a slight diversion: Ipswich Waterfront Walk - Discover Suffolk

 

[WoodyP]

I worked with someone who couldn't bring himself to drive over the bridge and indeed any large bridge and had to drive miles to avoid it. Phobia is a funny thing.

 

[Leighb]

I worked with someone who couldn't bring himself to drive over the bridge and indeed any large bridge and had to drive miles to avoid it. Phobia is a funny thing.

I wonder if any SatNav system allows for this? You can avoid motorways and tolls, but bridges??

 

[johnalison]

I worked with someone who couldn't bring himself to drive over the bridge and indeed any large bridge and had to drive miles to avoid it. Phobia is a funny thing.

I think it is not uncommon. Since you can't see a blind thing when crossing the Orwell bridge in a car, I am surprised that it concerns people. I seem to remember that I got some mild complaints from my wife when we drove over the QE II Thames bridge once. On the whole, I feel an elevation of the spirits when I feel myself to be aloft for any reason, though I am not immune to feeling scared when close to a high edge.

 

[WoodyP]

I wonder if any SatNav system allows for this? You can avoid motorways and tolls, but bridges??

He looked after the mapping and plans, so I think the road atlas was not a closed book.

 

[DanTribe]

There have been many calls to "do something" about the number of suicides from the bridge. Not sure what could be done, but restricting pedestrian access maybe?

 

[Snowgoose-1]

There have been many calls to "do something" about the number of suicides from the bridge. Not sure what could be done, but restricting pedestrian access maybe?

I expect than an escape route is required in the event of a calamity

They closed the lay by some time ago. I don't think that many know of the stairwell.

 

[LittleSister]

I worked with someone who couldn't bring himself to drive over the bridge and indeed any large bridge and had to drive miles to avoid it. Phobia is a funny thing.

That's nothing! A former girlfriend of mine's next door neighbour's partner refused to turn left (or was it right?) in a vehicle (and he had been or was a van driver!), so had to circle back around a block and cross the road he'd arrived on if a route required the offending turn. He explained that god had told him so. He had, I think, some serious mental health issues, and some additional non-motoring 'quirks'.

 

[LittleSister]

. . . I seem to remember that I got some mild complaints from my wife when we drove over the QE II Thames bridge once. On the whole, I feel an elevation of the spirits when I feel myself to be aloft for any reason, though I am not immune to feeling scared when close to a high edge.

Reminds me that when we were young my sister was always distressed when we used the Woolwich Ferry (in the family motorbike and sidecar), as you could see through the perforated steel decks of the access ramps heights to the water below, while I loved being able to see it.

To this day I'm very fearful of falling from heights, and disturbed by the possibility whether in real life, images in films, or in my dreams. I guess the ferry ramps didn't bother me because it was a relatively modest height, together with it being water rather than solid ground below.

Like you, I find uplifting the view from heights such as bridges, church towers and other high buildings, high cliffs, etc, but I have to have a solid wall, guardrail or plenty of distance between me and the 'edge'.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Back in the day when I was a fresh faced Management Trainee working for British Rail, I was walked across the upper tube of the Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar... Gulp... That did sway around a bit with a 350 tonne train crossing underneath us.