reinforced concrete deck arch bridge river_thames west london bridges opened ambitious scheme relieve traffic congestion west london carries road north bank thames south bank built site ferry bridge feet long faced tons portland stone time opening foot central span longest concrete span thames bridge possibly best known today proximity end championship course stretch thames boat race rowing races background villages miles west central london north south banks river_thames linked ferry 17th century areas sparsely populated little demand fixed river crossing point arrival railways london underground 19th century london practical affordable populations grew rapidly great road scheme proposed envisaged building major new road outskirts london miles west central london bypassing towns kingston richmond scheme abandoned costs arguments interested parties exact route road world war population west london suburbs continued grow thanks improved rail transport links growth ownership automobiles convened conference surrey middlesex county councils aim reaching solution congestion problem great road scheme revived approved scheme relieve chronic traffic congestion existing narrow streets area narrow bridges richmond bridge agreed pay heavy subsidies cost new arterial road road given august construction began construction road required new bridges built proposal authorised construction began year bridge newly built rebuilt court bridge opened edward prince wales july ferry service permanently closed design new bridge designed reinforced concrete architect sir engineer additional input time britain leading specialist reinforced concrete construction bridge concrete foundations supporting arch cellular reinforced concrete superstructure deck supported concealed columns beams rising arched superstructure structure faced tons portland stone underneath arches bridge feet long carries foot wide foot wide road time built foot central span longest concrete span thames unusually thames bridge spans cross river shorter spans end bridge cross allow sufficient clearance shipping steep approach roads bridge elevated distance river bridge built cost additional costs building approach roads purchasing land brought total cost bridge paid cost surrey middlesex county councils paying remainder bridge generally received country life praised design reflecting general design eighteenth century tradition lord famous villa present day major transport route eighth busiest london thames road bridges possibly best known proximity finishing line championship course stretch thames boat race rowing events race stone south bank brightly painted blue black marker post near north bank river feet downstream bridge mark end course bridge southern bank forms thames path northernmost arch club storage space
Chiswick Bridge