Comments for CBRD Blog http://blog.cbrd.co.uk Opinion, reasoned debate, occasional rage. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:33:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on Take the High Road by David Gartside http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/2008/09/take-the-high-road/#comment-112 David Gartside Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:48:32 +0000 http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/?p=38#comment-112 The concrete bridges on the A82..... According to my copy of 'Civil Engineering Heritage - Scottish Highlands and Islands' published by Thomas Telford (linked to the Institution of Civil Engineers, and involving RCAHMS: Royal Commission on Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland) - a very readable book and part of a UK wide series available from the Civils in London (confession time - I'm a member!) - the bridge over the Etive was designed by McGregor, Sutherland and Hunt, and built by tawse for £3352 in 1931-32. It's hard to imagine that the second bridge wasn't by the same team. The whole job was part of an unemployment relief scheme costing £512 000, building just over 30 miles of road across Rannoch Moor and down into Glencoe. I can see why Owen Williams came to mind; what I find interesting is that some of his early M1 bridges have been refurbished and the solid parapet replaced with conventional railings - this has the effect of changing the profile from being v clunky to actually quite light, especially considering they're reinforced concrete as opposed to pre-stressed concrete. Let's hope at least one of the original design can be preserved/listed. And finally - I always like the sign on the A9 outside Inverness which says 'The North'. Oh, sorry, I obviously haven't been paying attention.....! Rgds David Gartside The concrete bridges on the A82…..

According to my copy of ‘Civil Engineering Heritage - Scottish Highlands and Islands’ published by Thomas Telford (linked to the Institution of Civil Engineers, and involving RCAHMS: Royal Commission on Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland) - a very readable book and part of a UK wide series available from the Civils in London (confession time - I’m a member!) - the bridge over the Etive was designed by McGregor, Sutherland and Hunt, and built by tawse for £3352 in 1931-32. It’s hard to imagine that the second bridge wasn’t by the same team. The whole job was part of an unemployment relief scheme costing £512 000, building just over 30 miles of road across Rannoch Moor and down into Glencoe.

I can see why Owen Williams came to mind; what I find interesting is that some of his early M1 bridges have been refurbished and the solid parapet replaced with conventional railings - this has the effect of changing the profile from being v clunky to actually quite light, especially considering they’re reinforced concrete as opposed to pre-stressed concrete. Let’s hope at least one of the original design can be preserved/listed.

And finally - I always like the sign on the A9 outside Inverness which says ‘The North’. Oh, sorry, I obviously haven’t been paying attention…..!

Rgds

David Gartside

]]> Comment on Take the High Road by Toby Speight http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/2008/09/take-the-high-road/#comment-110 Toby Speight Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:48:49 +0000 http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/?p=38#comment-110 I haven't noticed the bridge near Luss; I'll have to look out for it when I next visit (in two weeks). Sorry I can't add any more enlightenment! I haven’t noticed the bridge near Luss; I’ll have to look out for it when I next visit (in two weeks). Sorry I can’t add any more enlightenment!

]]> Comment on Take the High Road by Chris http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/2008/09/take-the-high-road/#comment-109 Chris Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:22:42 +0000 http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/?p=38#comment-109 Toby - it is indeed the confirmiation just after the sharp bend at Tyndrum. I wondered at the time whether those two arched bridges were Owen Williams jobs - the sculpted parapet made me think so, but I didn't stop to check. There seemed to be another buried in the foliage alongside a new bridge carrying the road near Luss, which seemed (at 60mph) like another Williams job, but I couldn't tell. Toby - it is indeed the confirmiation just after the sharp bend at Tyndrum.

I wondered at the time whether those two arched bridges were Owen Williams jobs - the sculpted parapet made me think so, but I didn’t stop to check. There seemed to be another buried in the foliage alongside a new bridge carrying the road near Luss, which seemed (at 60mph) like another Williams job, but I couldn’t tell.

]]> Comment on Red, amber, green by Bloke http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/2008/05/red-amber-green/#comment-108 Bloke Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:57:34 +0000 http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/?p=21#comment-108 For added fun, near where I work is a junction that has a couple of Mellors with their wings clipped. Only the top and bottom retain their white outline. For added fun, near where I work is a junction that has a couple of Mellors with their wings clipped. Only the top and bottom retain their white outline.

]]> Comment on Take the High Road by Chris M http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/2008/09/take-the-high-road/#comment-107 Chris M Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:20:58 +0000 http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/?p=38#comment-107 Scotland is big, really big. You just wouldn't believe how mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you might think it's a long way down the M1 to London, but that's just peanuts to Scotland. (with apologies to Douglas Adams) Scotland is big, really big. You just wouldn’t believe how mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you might think it’s a long way down the M1 to London, but that’s just peanuts to Scotland.

(with apologies to Douglas Adams)

]]> Comment on Take the High Road by Toby Speight http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/2008/09/take-the-high-road/#comment-106 Toby Speight Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:26:27 +0000 http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/?p=38#comment-106 A lot of that is a part of my regular route between Cambridge and Lochcarron. I've done it in 10½ hours (without breaking the speed limits!), but I normally budget on 12-13 or so including a couple of fuel stops and something to eat. And maybe a trip round Tesco in Carlisle. Often it takes even longer, if I need a couple of hours' kip in the back (and I often do, if I'm driving alone at night - I must be getting old). But as you say, it's well worth it. The scenery is unparalleled in Britain - my personal highlights are near Kingshouse, with Buachaille Etive Mor dominating, then five miles later descending Glen Coe with the Three Sisters across the glen; after your turn at Inverlochy I get the fantastic view of Glen Garry, and the descent of Glen Shiel makes a fourth. That said, my favourite of the lot is coming round the corner just after Stromeferry (A890) where Lochcarron comes into sight for the first time! There's some great engineering sights, too. You mentioned M8 in Glasgow and the Erskine Bridge, but there's the pair of Williams bowstring arch bridges that delimit the Rannoch Moor section, and the Ballachulish Bridge, to name just two. P.S. That's a very new sign in your photo - A82 got its bilingual signs just this summer. Is that the one just after the snow gates as you leave Tyndrum (Tigh an Droma) northwards? A lot of that is a part of my regular route between Cambridge and Lochcarron. I’ve done it in 10½ hours (without breaking the speed limits!), but I normally budget on 12-13 or so including a couple of fuel stops and something to eat. And maybe a trip round Tesco in Carlisle. Often it takes even longer, if I need a couple of hours’ kip in the back (and I often do, if I’m driving alone at night - I must be getting old).

But as you say, it’s well worth it. The scenery is unparalleled in Britain - my personal highlights are near Kingshouse, with Buachaille Etive Mor dominating, then five miles later descending Glen Coe with the Three Sisters across the glen; after your turn at Inverlochy I get the fantastic view of Glen Garry, and the descent of Glen Shiel makes a fourth. That said, my favourite of the lot is coming round the corner just after Stromeferry (A890) where Lochcarron comes into sight for the first time!

There’s some great engineering sights, too. You mentioned M8 in Glasgow and the Erskine Bridge, but there’s the pair of Williams bowstring arch bridges that delimit the Rannoch Moor section, and the Ballachulish Bridge, to name just two.

P.S. That’s a very new sign in your photo - A82 got its bilingual signs just this summer. Is that the one just after the snow gates as you leave Tyndrum (Tigh an Droma) northwards?

]]> Comment on How to make a road video by Craig K. http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/2008/08/how-to-make-a-road-video/#comment-77 Craig K. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:58:27 +0000 http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/?p=35#comment-77 I watched that video segment of you on "The One Show" and something about the map that you had and unfolding it into something huge just made me laugh out loud. That was a cool segment by the way. Nice job I watched that video segment of you on “The One Show” and something about the map that you had and unfolding it into something huge just made me laugh out loud. That was a cool segment by the way. Nice job

]]> Comment on Croydon Ring Road by Richard Smith http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/2008/08/croydon-ring-road/#comment-72 Richard Smith Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:43:59 +0000 http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/?p=30#comment-72 Not exactly Croydon related, but it might be a good idea to find a way of linking this into a feature about ring roads in general: bad, good, grandiose failures, modest successes, double decker roads, what do you mean there's only 50 yards between junctions?, what's a zebra crossing doing 30 yards after the motorway end?, that kind of thing. There's already the germ of this in the Liverpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Coventry and Halifax pages... Please though, no Poochmobile ;) Not exactly Croydon related, but it might be a good idea to find a way of linking this into a feature about ring roads in general: bad, good, grandiose failures, modest successes, double decker roads, what do you mean there’s only 50 yards between junctions?, what’s a zebra crossing doing 30 yards after the motorway end?, that kind of thing. There’s already the germ of this in the Liverpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Coventry and Halifax pages…

Please though, no Poochmobile ;)

]]> Comment on Ta very much by Chris http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/2008/06/ta-very-much/#comment-69 Chris Sat, 02 Aug 2008 06:45:53 +0000 http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/?p=29#comment-69 Yes, Toby, I think this little moment of ego-boosting pleasure was obviously the beginning of the end... Seriously - I took a month out from CBRD and since my return things have been so busy at work I've only managed a couple of small updates to the main site (and, I fear, nothing today). So unfortunately the blog has to come second and CBRD itself has been taking any available time for these things. The blog will return in another week or two, I think. Yes, Toby, I think this little moment of ego-boosting pleasure was obviously the beginning of the end…

Seriously - I took a month out from CBRD and since my return things have been so busy at work I’ve only managed a couple of small updates to the main site (and, I fear, nothing today). So unfortunately the blog has to come second and CBRD itself has been taking any available time for these things.

The blog will return in another week or two, I think.

]]> Comment on Ta very much by Martin http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/2008/06/ta-very-much/#comment-68 Martin Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:57:01 +0000 http://blog.cbrd.co.uk/?p=29#comment-68 Indeed. It's all gone very quiet in here.... Indeed. It’s all gone very quiet in here….

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