Reading Bridge

Reading Bridge
Reading Bridge viewed from the south bank
Coordinates	51°27′39.5″N 0°58′04.5″W / 51.460972°N 0.967917°W / 51.460972; -0.967917
Carries	B3345
Crosses	River Thames
Locale	Reading
Owner	Reading Borough Council
Maintained by	Reading Borough Council
Characteristics
Design	Arch
Total length	180 feet (55 m)
Width	40 feet (12 m)
Height	18 feet (5.5 m)
No. of spans	1
Clearance below	17 feet 8 inches (5.38 m)
History
Construction start	March 1922
Opened	3 October 1923
Location

Reading Bridge is a road bridge over the River Thames at Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The bridge links the centre of Reading on the south bank with the Lower Caversham area of the cross-river suburb, and former village, of Caversham on the north bank. It crosses the river a short way above Caversham Lock.

The current bridge is the first on the site, and was opened on 3 October 1923. It has a single reinforced concrete main span of 180 feet (55 m), which was, at the time of construction, the longest such span in the United Kingdom. There are also two side arches for footpaths. The span rises to a height of 18 feet (5.5 m) at the centre, giving a navigation clearance of 17 feet 8 inches (5.38 m). The bridge deck is 40 ft (12 m) wide and carries a 27 ft (8.2 m) wide carriageway and two flanking footways.^[1][2]