# Napier Bridge > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Napier_Bridge > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Napier_Bridge.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier_Bridge > Source revision: 1303064326 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}} {{Infobox bridge | image = Napier bridge and Island Grounds aerial view.jpg | caption = Napier bridge across the [Cooum River](/source/Cooum_River) | official_name = | carries = 6 lanes of traffic | crosses = [Cooum river](/source/Cooum_river) | locale = [Chennai](/source/Chennai), [Tamil Nadu](/source/Tamil_Nadu), India | maint = | designer = | design = | mainspan = {{cvt|138|m}} | length = | width = | height = | clearance = | below = | traffic = | material = Concrete | begin = | complete = | open = {{start date and age|1869}} (original bridge)
{{start date and age|1944}} (concrete bridge)
{{start date and age|1999}} (appended) | closed = | toll = | coordinates = {{Coord|13.0688|80.2845|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}} | extra = }} '''Napier Bridge''' is a [road bridge](/source/road_bridge) over the [Coovum River](/source/Coovum_River) in [Chennai](/source/Chennai), India. It connects [Fort St. George](/source/Fort_St._George) with the [Marina Beach](/source/Marina_Beach), and is one of the historic structures and landmarks of the city. The first iron bridge was built in 1869, which was rebuilt further in 1909 and 1944. A new concrete bridge was added to the west of the original bridge in 1999 to handle additional lanes of traffic. == History == thumb|left|The concrete bridge built in 1944 In 1868, [Francis Napier](/source/Francis_Napier%2C_10th_Lord_Napier), then [Governor of Madras](/source/List_of_colonial_governors_and_presidents_of_Madras_Presidency), planned to build a bridge across the mouth of the [Cooum River](/source/Cooum_River). The [cast iron](/source/cast_iron) [lattice bridge](/source/lattice_bridge) was built in 1869, and connected the [Fort St. George](/source/Fort_St._George) in northern [Madras](/source/Madras) with the other side of the city.{{cite web|url=https://www.dtnext.in/city/2017/12/24/napier-indias-first-prestressed-concrete-bridge |title=Napier, India's first prestressed concrete bridge|date=24 December 2017|access-date=1 June 2025|work=[Daily Thanthi](/source/Daily_Thanthi)}}{{cite news|title=Special lighting on Napier Bridge|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article538839.ece|work=[The Hindu](/source/The_Hindu)|date=29 July 2010|access-date=1 June 2011}} However, due to corrosion, the bridge had to be replaced by a new bridge with large iron girders in 1909. The new bridge was prone to [lightning strike](/source/lightning_strike)s, which led to the installation of a [lightning rod](/source/lightning_rod) later. The iron bridge became weaker towards the end of the 1930s, and plans were made to construct a new bridge at a cost of {{INRconvert|0.15|m|year=1939}}. The new bridge was built with pre-stressed concrete and was the first such bridge to be built in India. It was built by Gannon Dunkerley, and the construction was supervised by the [Madras Port Trust](/source/Madras_Port_Trust). The construction involved the utilization of 240 tonnes of [steel](/source/steel) and 500 tonnes of [cement](/source/cement). The bridge was opened for traffic in 1944.{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2010/Jul/29/lighting-facility-launched-on-napier-bridge-173746.html|title=Lighting facility launched on Napier Bridge|date=29 July 2010|access-date=1 June 2025|newspaper=[The New Indian Express](/source/The_New_Indian_Express)}} In 1999, a new bridge was added to the western side of the existing bridge.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/napier-bridge-gets-a-new-epoxy-based-coat-of-paint/article31869684.ece|title=Napier bridge gets a new epoxy-based coat of paint|date=19 June 2020|access-date=1 July 2024|newspaper=[The Hindu](/source/The_Hindu)}} == Design == thumb|left|Illuminated Napier Bridge at night The newly built western carriageway is {{cvt|10.5|m}}-wide with the original eastern side carriageway measuring {{cvt|9.75|m}} in width, and {{cvt|2|m}} wide footpaths. The bridge is {{cvt|138|m}} long consisting of six spans with bowstring arches on either side across the mouth of the Cooum river.{{cite report|title=River and Drainage System in CMA|url=http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/pdfs/SeminarOnWaterways/5.pdf|access-date=1 June 2023|work=[Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority](/source/Chennai_Metropolitan_Development_Authority)|archive-date=28 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328075547/http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/pdfs/SeminarOnWaterways/5.pdf|url-status=dead}} The bridge was painted white, which was maintained till the early 2020s. In 2010, the bridge was illuminated by 464 [LED](/source/LED) bulbs at a cost of {{INRConvert|16.2|m|year=2010}}. The lighting was done by [Sydney](/source/Sydney)-based firm LDP Lighting and it was designed to give an illusion of a floating bridge in the night. In 2020, the lighting was upgraded to a dynamic lighting system.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/napier-bridge-gets-dynamic-lighting-system/article32348920.ece|title=Napier Bridge gets dynamic lighting system|date=14 August 2020|access-date=1 June 2024|newspaper=[The Hindu](/source/The_Hindu)}} In 2022, the bridge was painted in a checkered pattern similar to a [chessboard](/source/chessboard) ahead of the [44th Chess Olympiad](/source/44th_Chess_Olympiad) held in Chennai.{{cite news|date=16 July 2022|title=Chennai's Napier Bridge decked up like a chessboard days ahead of Olympiad|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/watch-chennai-s-napier-bridge-decked-up-like-a-chessboard-days-ahead-of-olympiad-101657991179988.html|access-date=1 July 2023|newspaper=[The Hindustan Times](/source/The_Hindustan_Times)}}{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.in/chess/story/_/id/34305398/chess-olympiad-2022-chennai-india-capital-welcomes-world-magnus-carlsen|title= Chennai, India's chess capital, welcomes the world|date=28 July 2022|work=[ESPN](/source/ESPN)|access-date=30 July 2022}} The artwork drew mixed reaction from the people, being praised by some while others raised concerns that the pattern was disorienting.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/chennaiites-divided-over-napier-bridges-chess-makeover-for-chess-olympiad-2022/articleshow/93043663.cms|title=Chennaiites divided over Napier Bridge's chess makeover for Chess Olympiad 2022|newspaper=[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)|date=22 July 2022|access-date=29 July 2022}}{{cite news|title=Napier Bridge's chequered look causing 'reel' traffic trouble: Cops |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2022/jul/24/napier-bridges-chequered-look-causing-reel-traffic-trouble-cops-2480030.html |access-date=14 August 2022|newspaper=[The New Indian Express](/source/The_New_Indian_Express)}} ==See also== * [Architecture of Chennai](/source/Architecture_of_Chennai) * [Heritage structures in Chennai](/source/Heritage_structures_in_Chennai) {{Portal|India}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{commons category}} {{Bridges in Chennai}} {{Bridges in India}} {{Chennai Topics}} Category:Bridges completed in 1869 Category:Bridges and flyovers in Chennai Category:Bridges over the Cooum River Category:Road bridges in India Category:1869 establishments in India --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Napier Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier_Bridge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier_Bridge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.