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The bridge was constructed as part of a £100 million plan to improve the A249 between the M2 and the port of
Sheerness. The Kingsferry Bridge, which previously carried the A249, suffers from two major drawbacks:
354:. A competition held to name the new bridge was won by lifelong Sheppey resident Reginald Grimwade, who was then invited to attend the opening ceremony and presented with an award by Ladyman.
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mechanism was employed to move the sections of roadway into position from each end of the bridge, with the final two sections of deck lifted into place during
November 2005.
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The crossing was closed both ways on 1 July 2014 following the first fatal accident. A mother and her 8-year-old son died. Her 7-year-old son survived, but was airlifted to
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on the southbound carriageway of the crossing, which at the time was covered in heavy fog. Emergency services were called to the crossing at around 07:15 BST according to
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Following the incident, questions were raised over the safety of the unlit bridge, with calls for speed restrictions and overhead lights.
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and others, on landscape and safety grounds. This was rejected primarily on environmental grounds, the site being within and near
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230:. The four-lane crossing measures 21.5 m (71 feet) in width, at a height of 35 m (115 feet) over the water. The A249 links the
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The
Sheppey Crossing is not open to pedestrians, bicycles, or horses, and these continue to use the older bridge, as does the
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466:"Highways Agency - A249 Iwade Bypass to Queenborough Improvement (part of the A249 Stockbury (M2) to Sheerness DBFO)"
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It has only one lane in each direction, and as traffic to and from the island increased over time it became a
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motorways to
Sheppey. The bridge opened in 2006, and it provides an alternative highway to the neighbouring
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297:. It often needs to be raised to allow marine traffic to pass under it, leading to lengthy traffic delays.
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652:"Sheppey Crossing crash: Police say it is 'truly miraculous' no one was killed in 130-car pile-up"
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Before its opening, it was estimated that 26,000 vehicles a day would use the new crossing.
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contract. Construction was difficult because many of the bridge's piers had to be built on
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444:"Sheppey crossing cameras will monitor every vehicle in bid to catch criminals"
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Aerial view of the
Sheppey Crossing, with the older Kingsferry Bridge behind
414:"Critical analysis of the design and constriction of the Sheppey Crossing"
517:"UK | England | Kent | Island's lifeline at halfway mark"
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The crossing was closed on 9 February 2020 over safety concerns during
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688:"Up to 100 cars crash in pileup on fog-shrouded bridge near London"
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of steel was used in construction, which was carried out by
629:"Sheppey crossing crash: Dozens hurt as 130 vehicles crash"
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A tunnel, as an alternative crossing, was advocated by the
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The A249 approaching the
Sheppey Crossing from the south
732:"Sheppey Crossing crash: Mother and son, 8, are killed"
710:"Sheppey crossing safety calls after 130-vehicle crash"
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130 vehicles were involved in a series of shunt crashes
754:"A249 Sheppey Crossing shut due to Storm Ciara winds"
468:. Highways.gov.uk. 19 February 2010. Archived from
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792:Highways Agency article on the opening ceremony
362:On the morning of 5 September 2013, more than
257:(ANPR) system to detect lawbreaking vehicles.
346:The bridge was opened on 3 July 2006, by the
323:for Transportation Structures. Around 10,000
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315:The bridge was designed by Cass Hayward and
666:"Sheppey Crash: 100 Cars Collide On Bridge"
306:Council for the Protection of Rural England
782:Sheppey Crossing at SteelConstruction.info
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277:Distant view of the Sheppey Crossing
495:"Sheppey Crossing opens to traffic"
253:. Both bridges are monitored by an
650:Williams, Rob (5 September 2013).
607:"Local man names new Swale bridge"
255:automatic number plate recognition
14:
690:. National Post. 5 September 2013
566:New high level bridge boosts jobs
442:This is Kent (26 January 2011).
31:
544:Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
206:is a bridge which carries the
1:
787:Highways Agency photo gallery
712:. bbc.co.uk. 6 September 2013
668:. Sky News. 5 September 2013
631:. BBC News. 5 September 2013
609:. BBC News. 21 February 2006
412:Rohani, A. (23 April 2008).
242:that was completed in 1959.
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333:private finance initiative
817:Bridges completed in 2006
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310:Special Protection Areas
66:51.3906111°N 0.7471556°E
519:. BBC News. 19 May 2005
497:. BBC News. 3 July 2006
386:King's College Hospital
16:Bridge in Kent, England
278:
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348:Minister of Transport
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226:with the mainland of
71:51.3906111; 0.7471556
587:. Steel Construction
472:on 21 September 2011
423:. University of Bath
379:matrix warning signs
295:vertical-lift bridge
166:35 metres (115 feet)
319:, and won the 2007
148:21 metres (70 feet)
62: /
734:. BBC. 1 July 2014
654:. The Independent.
585:"Sheppey Crossing"
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240:Kingsferry Bridge
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176:Construction cost
102:(a strait in the
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352:Stephen Ladyman
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222:), linking the
162:Clearance above
122:Characteristics
117:, Kent, England
115:Isle of Sheppey
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547:. 2 April 1998
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57:00°44′49.76″E
54:51°23′26.20″N
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761:. Retrieved
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591:14 September
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470:the original
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261:Construction
247:railway line
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216:tidal strait
203:
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153:Longest span
137:Total length
18:
763:10 February
758:Kent Online
716:9 September
694:5 September
672:5 September
635:5 September
613:21 November
501:21 November
393:Storm Ciara
368:Kent Police
187:3 July 2006
179:£30 million
131:beam bridge
69: /
44:Coordinates
801:Categories
399:References
388:, London.
377:suggested
288:bottleneck
85:Four lane
523:22 August
476:22 August
450:22 August
358:Incidents
337:marshland
329:Carillion
251:Sheerness
212:the Swale
208:A249 road
104:North Sea
100:The Swale
738:8 August
569:Archived
427:9 August
331:under a
293:It is a
192:Location
341:jacking
218:of the
210:across
171:History
96:Crosses
90:highway
82:Carries
551:3 July
375:The AA
325:tonnes
184:Opened
127:Design
111:Locale
417:(PDF)
156:92.5m
145:Width
140:1.3km
765:2020
740:2020
718:2013
696:2013
674:2013
637:2013
615:2006
593:2019
553:2017
525:2011
503:2006
478:2011
452:2011
429:2014
339:. A
234:and
228:Kent
202:The
249:to
232:M20
214:(a
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486:^
419:.
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312:.
236:M2
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106:)
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