Well pretty it ain't and not much clearance either

[Lazy Days]

Took advantage of the pleasantly unseasonable weather for a little jaunt down to Dorney to check out the bridge. It seems we were not alone in that endeavour - lost count of the number of boats who came down this afternoon through the bridge turned around and came up again. Except that is for the ones which didn't fit under and had to back out - see second photo - although to be fair in the case of the Broom(?) in the pic it was probably a case of not wanting the hassle of lowering the radar arch.

The bridge isn't the prettiest thing in the world but I suppose it's only going to be plastered in "sponsor messages" so who cares what it looks like underneath.


IMG_0434[1] by Lazy Days 2012, on Flickr

IMG_0435[1] by Lazy Days 2012, on Flickr

 

[Relax.A]

Great pics does anyone know the official clearance figures

 

[Deefor]

Great pics does anyone know the official clearance figures

Beat me to it - good question .

 

[thamesS23]

have to agree that we thought it looked ugly today as we went under it - and I believe there is talk of making it a permanent crossing as part of 'the legacy'.

that aside, what a great weekend weather wise. Was good to have the first bbq of the year on saturday and first trip out on the boat today.

 

[TrueBlue]

have to agree that we thought it looked ugly today as we went under it - and I believe there is talk of making it a permanent crossing as part of 'the legacy'.

Oo goody, goody keep all those girt big boats away from the really nice bits on the River....

 

[boatone]

Great pics does anyone know the official clearance figures

From reliable sources......

Navigation arch air draft is approx 4.2m, which is no lower than Windsor Bridge (and overall much wider).

 

[dash300]

'and I believe there is talk of making it a permanent crossing as part of 'the legacy'.

 

[boatone]

'and I believe there is talk of making it a permanent crossing as part of 'the legacy'.

Nope, I understand that it is definitely temporary.

 

[dash300]

Nope, I understand that it is definitely temporary.

Hopefully more temporary than the Walton temporary bridges!!

 

[watson1959]

'and I believe there is talk of making it a permanent crossing as part of 'the legacy'.

How pretty

 

[boatone]

Hopefully more temporary than the Walton temporary bridges!!

Well the Paralympics don't end until 2nd September so it will deffo be there until after that. Would be surprised if it isn't gone before the winter sets in though.

 

[Wavey]

and I believe there is talk of making it a permanent crossing as part of 'the legacy'.

Which translated into English means "we don't want to spend the money removing it".

Translation taken from the "Walton Bridge" edition of the Oxford English dictionary.

 

[boatone]

Which translated into English means "we don't want to spend the money removing it".

Translation taken from the "Walton Bridge" edition of the Oxford English dictionary.

Information I have received from the EA clearly states:

The top sections of the temporary Eton Dorney Bridge have now been installed.

Which part of 'temporary' is difficult to understand?

In any case, as I understand it, the cost associated with this will be carried by the Olympics organisers rather than being funded by EA navigation monies, as I believe is also the case with the bank-side and channel improvements along the Bray-Boveney stretch.

 

[rosssavage]

I was one of them - yup, fugly structure. Had about 18" clearance. Lots better than cookham lock cut, but it's yet another obstacle for those with taller boats.

 

[Brayman]

Hopefully more temporary than the Walton temporary bridges!!

Hear hear!

 

[OceanBlue]

Looking at the pics, lucky the river is running low just now!

 

[oldgit]

163" ?

 

[Dave70]

Dorney[temp] bridge

Went under on thurs.23rd in morning,i think we might have been one of the first ,as all the bridge workers were taking pics of us as we went under [downstream]as you say not attractive but i would imagine practible.

 

[thames cruiser]

EA have said that the bridge clearance is "6 inches more than Windsor Footbridge". Why couldn't they just say how high it was?!!!

And they say that it is definitely temporary to be removed after the Olympics, but that have not set a date for removal as they will need to shut the river for a day whilst they do it and they have not decided when yet.

I think references to a 'legacy' bridge might be to do with the smaller bridge recently installed within the Eton Dorney complex, which will be staying after the Olympics, but is not over the Thames.

 

[boatone]

My earlier post was quite specific:
"From reliable sources......
Navigation arch air draft is approx 4.2m, which is no lower than Windsor Bridge (and overall much wider)."

As for the "legacy" bit .....early conjecture became urban myth