Many people know of The Golden Gate or Brooklyn Bridge, yet one bridge close to my home was once called the eighth wonder of the world.

Here are more than a dozen interesting Humber Bridge facts to explain why.

Interesting Humber Bridge Facts

Here are some facts that you may not know.

Where is the Humber Bridge?

In spite of what some people think the Humber Bridge is not in Hull. The bridge lies west of Hull and connects the towns of Hessle (north bank) with Barton upon Humber.

What waterway does it cross?

Often misquoted as the River Humber the bridge actually crosses over the Humber estuary not a river. An estuary is where

“a partly enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea.”

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estuary)

The Humber Estuary is where the rivers Ouse and Trent form and lead into the North Sea. It is effectively draining one fifth of England.

When was the Humber Bridge built?

The bridge was officially opened by The Queen on 17th July 1981. It was opened to traffic on 24th June 1981.

How long did it take to build the Humber Bridge?

The Humber Bridge took 9 years to build with construction beginning in July 1972. It was initially supposed to take 5 years however there were technical difficulties and poor weather conditions.

The initial Humber Bridge Act to build the bridge was passed as far back as 1959.

How long is the Humber Bridge?

End to end it is 1.4 miles long.

How tall is the Humber Bridge?

The bridge has two towers which are 155.5 metres high. The road part of the bridge is up to 30m high above the water.

How much did the Humber Bridge cost to build?

The bridge cost £98m to build. Initial estimates were that it would cost £28m.

What is a single span bridge?

A single span bridge is where the span is anchored between two supports (one at each end) with no support in the middle.

Is the Humber Bridge the longest single span bridge in the world?

No, not any more. When it was first built it held this claim to fame and was cited by some as “the eighth wonder of the world”. It was the longest single span bridge in the world until June 1997 when The Great Belt Bridge was completed in Denmark.

The bridge is now the seventh longest of its type in the world, however it is the longest which you can cross by bicycle or foot.

Random facts about the Humber Bridge:-

there is enough cable in the bridge to nearly go around the earth twice

amount of concrete used to build the bridge was 480,000 tonnes

to accommodate the curvature of the earth the towers were designed such that they are 36mm further apart from each other at the top than they are at the bottom

in winds of 80mph the bridge can bend in excess of 3 metres in the middle. For this reason don’t be surprised to see the bridge closed in high winds. The roadway is streamlined to cope with wind resistance

the deck structure weighs 16,500 tonnes

What are the Humber Bridge toll prices?

In 2015 the following charges apply:-

Car/LGV £1.50

MGC £4.00

HGC £12.00

On 5th November 2015 the Humber Bridge Toll Project is introducing an electronic tag system where drivers who elect to use the tags can bypass the cash toll booths. You have to apply in advance for the electronic tags for the Humber Bridge.

Find out more here: http://humberbridgetollproject.co.uk/

Are there many suicides from the Humber Bridge?

Sadly the bridge makes a top 10 list of popular suicide spots in the world. On average there are 7 attempted suicides a year. http://www.bestschoolcounselingdegrees.com/10-most-popular-suicide-spots-on-earth/

What events happen around the Humber Bridge?

The Humber Bridge plays host to a 10k run plus a Humber Bridge Fun run typically in June of each year.

There is also an annual Humber Bridge Half Marathon a few weeks later. To find out more go here:- http://www.humber-half.org.uk/

In addition, on the first Sunday of every month there is the Humber Bridge Farmers’ Market.

Have you ever visited the bridge over the Humber? If so feel free to leave your Humber Bridge facts below or let me know what you thought of this engineering marvel.