pont-y-siartwyr

The Arup designed Chartist Bridge links the east & west sides of the Sirhowy Valley, north of Blackwood. Previously, the journey was made by de-tour via a 1 in 4 road through the bottom of the valley, known locally as the Rhiw.

The bridge commemorates the 1839 Newport Rising of the Chartist Movement, when several thousand protesters marched to Newport, from all over the South Wales valleys.

The bridge is a part of the Sirhowy Enterprise Way regeneration project, & opened four months ahead of schedule, on 3 December 2005.

The bridge is a cable stayed bridge 230m long supported 30m above the valley floor by a 90m A frame pylon. Difficulties with mining related subsidence during construction & in the foreseeable future led the design team to allow the bridge to 'breathe' if settlement does occur.