Estuary

It’s the bridge to nowhere. At one time it carried the main road from the west over the River Test into Southampton.
Yet, though it still remains a prominent landmark, the main road is now a few yards away to the south as a main artery to the city, and crossing the same waters.
It’s the point where the mainly chalk stream River Test which meanders through Hampshire, becomes its estuary into the sea, just a few hundred yards from the deep water container ship berths of Southampton Docks.
But twin bridges carrying the road to nowhere still remain. Today they are no more than a historic remnant of the past, providing a vantage point for anglers and an inviting spot in midsummer for bathers practising the dangerous art of tombstoning, leaping from the bridge into the fast flowing waters below.
Yet it provides an unrivalled view across the wildlife reserve as the river waters merge into the tidal depths of the sea. Further upstream the river is regarded as one of the finest trout fishing rivers in the country and under these arches, salmon head upstream to spawning grounds.

But the twin bridges remain now largely redundant, alongside the current highway, one of the busiest routes in and out of the city,  Yet pulling off the main highway and pause by these bridges on the road to nowhere provide a sense of unrivalled tranquillity just yards from the current busy highway.