A Special Bridge

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They say it's a special bridge, I didn't know until I had walked across it and read a large sign telling me that it's special army bridge.

You wanna know why it's so special eh, ok, let's imagine you've walked across the bridge and you're reading the sign telling you it's a special bridge, here's the words for you ...
This bridge is one or only two known examples of an Inglis badge still extant, and the only  one still carrying light Vehicles.
Developed in the First World War as military bridging for use in combat conditions, it was designed by Professor Sir Charles Inglis, whilst he was serving as an officer in the Royal Engineers. It has few component parts and can be constructed using the minimum of mechanical aids since all the components can be manhandled into position. The tubular sections are pinned into cast sockets to make 15ft. (4.57m) bays. A maximum of 6 bays could be built and greater load carrying capacity could be achieved by doubling or trebling the Warren girders. It was designed for rapid erection and deployment. A 60ft.- (18.24m) span could be constructed and launched by a troop of 48 men in less than 12 hours. It was superseded early in the Second World War by the better known Bailey Bridge which was used extensively for both military and civil temporary bridging. This example of a Mark II Inglis Bridge was erected in 1931 by the Royal Monmouthshire Roya! Engineers [Militia] and has been in continuous use ever since. Spanning just over 90ft. [27.47m] it has a roadway width of 9ft. 6ins. [2.9m].

The bridge was refurbished in 1998 by the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers [Militia].
Special, military special, so there ya go. So special that it's the only one left and they've not built any more.

Bailey Bridge, a small vehicle bridge over a small river. It's made of blue tubes, this makes it special.
11-13 Hereford Rd, Monmouth NP25 3PE, UK

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