{{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 | official_name = | carries = 6 lanes of traffic | crosses = Cooum river | locale = Chennai, 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) <br /> {{start date and age|1944}} (concrete bridge) <br /> {{start date and age|1999}} (appended) | closed = | toll = | coordinates = {{Coord|13.0688|80.2845|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}} | extra = <!--End Location Map--><!--End Designation list--> }}<!--End Infobox Bridge-->
'''Napier Bridge''' is a road bridge over the Coovum River in Chennai, India. It connects Fort St. George with the 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, then Governor of Madras, planned to build a bridge across the mouth of the Cooum River. The cast iron lattice bridge was built in 1869, and connected the Fort St. George in northern Madras with the other side of the city.<ref name="DT">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Special lighting on Napier Bridge|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article538839.ece|work=The Hindu|date=29 July 2010|access-date=1 June 2011}}</ref> 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 strikes, which led to the installation of a 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}}.<ref name="DT"/>
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.<ref name="DT"/> The construction involved the utilization of 240 tonnes of steel and 500 tonnes of cement. The bridge was opened for traffic in 1944.<ref name="DT"/><ref name="IE">{{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}}</ref> In 1999, a new bridge was added to the western side of the existing bridge.<ref name="The Hindu">{{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}}</ref>
== 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.<ref name="The Hindu"/> The bridge is {{cvt|138|m}} long consisting of six spans with bowstring arches on either side across the mouth of the Cooum river.<ref>{{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|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}}</ref> The bridge was painted white, which was maintained till the early 2020s.<ref name="The Hindu"/>
In 2010, the bridge was illuminated by 464 LED bulbs at a cost of {{INRConvert|16.2|m|year=2010}}. The lighting was done by Sydney-based firm LDP Lighting and it was designed to give an illusion of a floating bridge in the night.<ref name="IE"/> In 2020, the lighting was upgraded to a dynamic lighting system.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2022, the bridge was painted in a checkered pattern similar to a chessboard ahead of the 44th Chess Olympiad held in Chennai.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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|access-date=30 July 2022}}</ref> The artwork drew mixed reaction from the people, being praised by some while others raised concerns that the pattern was disorienting.<ref>{{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|date=22 July 2022|access-date=29 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
==See also== * Architecture of Chennai * 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