Kingsmead Viaduct

Kingsmead Viaduct
The Kingsmead Viaduct viewed from the East (downstream) from Ware, approximately 500 metres away
Coordinates	51°48′34″N 0°03′06″W / 51.809373°N 0.051583°WCoordinates: 51°48′34″N 0°03′06″W / 51.809373°N 0.051583°W TL 344 141
Carries	dual 2 lane carriageways
Crosses	River Lea, New River
Locale	Ware
Characteristics
Design	Concrete Box girder bridge
Total length	716.15808 m (2,350 ft) [1]
History
Opened	August 17, 1976

The Kingsmead Viaduct (or Kings Meads Viaduct^[2]) is a raised dual-carriageway viaduct of the A10 road. It is often referred to colloquially as the Ware Viaduct.

The road was originally constructed as a trunk route by the Highways Agency as the second part of a two phase improvement of the A10 between Ware and Cheshunt. On 29 September 2006 the road was de-trunked,^[3] and the viaduct is now the responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council.

Kingsmead Viaduct viewed from Bengeo

Major works

The expansion joints were replaced by the Highways Agency in July 2005.^[4]

Improvements to the Bridge Parapets to bring them up to modern standards were carried out by Hertfordshire from July to September 2008 (This included installing new High Containment Parapets over the Railway).^[5]

Location

The bridge spans the Lea Valley, crossing the River Lea, the New River and the A119 road between the Rush Green Interchange near Hertford and the Westmill Interchange (north-west of Ware).

Also running along the valley floor is the Hertford East Branch Line, which the viaduct crosses between Ware and the Hertford East terminus.

References

1. Reported as being 35.6 chains http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000306/text/00306w02.htm
2. http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000306/text/00306w02.htm
3. http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/Highways_Agency_Area_6_Newsletter.pdf
4. http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5761.aspx
5. http://news.hertsdirect.org/Release.aspx?a=1&id=7500&_cat=14