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Bridge closed after cable 'snap' Bridge closed after cable snapped
(about 2 hours later)
The newest bridge over the River Clyde in Glasgow has been closed after a support cable snapped and landed on the carriageway on Monday night. Engineers are trying to establish what caused a support cable to snap and crash down on the newest bridge over the River Clyde in Glasgow.
People nearby reported hearing a loud "snap" from the Clyde Arc bridge, which joins Finnieston with Kinning Park. The Clyde Arc bridge - better known as the "Squinty Bridge" - has been closed since a loud snapping noise was heard at about 2330 GMT on Monday night.
Dubbed the "Squinty Bridge", it cost £20.3m and was opened to traffic in September 2006. The bridge between Finnieston and Pacific Quay opened in 2006.
No-one was injured in the incident. Glasgow City Council said it was not known when the bridge would reopen. Its designers and builders have now carried out an initial inspection into what went wrong.
Public safety We don't believe the bridge's integrity is at risk, but it has been closed for public safety reasons Glasgow City Council
A further inspection by designers Halcrow and civil engineering contractor Edmund Nuttall Ltd, who built the bridge, is due to be carried out later on Tuesday afternoon.
It is hoped engineers will then have a better idea of the full extent of the damage, and how long the bridge will need to remain closed.
A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said the damaged cable, which fell onto the carriageway, would be sent back to the manufacturers for testing.
In the meantime efforts were being made to organise traffic management systems, she said.
The spokeswoman added: "The bridge is designed to allow for struts to be removed one at a time to be repaired.
"We don't believe the bridge's integrity is at risk, but it has been closed for public safety reasons."
The cables are an integral part of the bridge structure
John Colvin, the night manager at the nearby City Inn hotel, said the noise had been very worrying.John Colvin, the night manager at the nearby City Inn hotel, said the noise had been very worrying.
He said: "To be honest it was a scary sound, it sounded like a bomb going off.He said: "To be honest it was a scary sound, it sounded like a bomb going off.
"We felt the vibrations of it right here. We looked out and someone said one of the supports had gone on the bridge and the whole thing was shaking.""We felt the vibrations of it right here. We looked out and someone said one of the supports had gone on the bridge and the whole thing was shaking."
Mr Colvin added that the cable snapped at about 2330 GMT, when there were no cars on the bridge.Mr Colvin added that the cable snapped at about 2330 GMT, when there were no cars on the bridge.
The cables are an integral part of the bridge structure The structure, which spans 140m, is a tied arch design, carrying four traffic lanes. One lane in each direction is reserved for public transport and there are pedestrian and cycle paths.
A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: "The bridge is designed to allow for struts to be removed one at a time to be repaired. Running at an angle across the water, it was the first new road bridge over the river to be built since 1969 when it was built at a cost of £20.3m.
"We don't believe the bridge's integrity is at risk, but it has been closed for public safety reasons."
The spokeswoman added that a design team would inspect the structure before deciding what action to take, and the bridge will remain closed until then.
No firm timeline is available for when the bridge will be reopened.
The bridge spans 140 metres and was designed by engineering consultancy Halcrow. It was built by Kilsyth-based civil engineering contractor Edmund Nuttall Ltd.
The structure is a tied arch design, carrying four traffic lanes. One lane in each direction is reserved for public transport and there are pedestrian and cycle paths.
Running at an angle across the water, it was the first new road bridge over the river to be built since 1969.
The Saltire Society gave the bridge a civil engineering award last year.The Saltire Society gave the bridge a civil engineering award last year.