Strange A4 overbridge in the 1960’s

[TravisM]

Bit of a wild goose chase but in the 1960’s, when as a kid, used to travel with my family to see my grandmother along the A4 (before the M4 was built) in Weston-super-Mare.  I seem to remember a strange overbridge on the A4 in the Somerset/Wiltshire border area.

 

I think it was near Devizes as there was a lifted railway line which ran underneath it could be the Devizes branch or S&D.  It was strange as there was a T- Junction on the top of the bridge.  It’s always stuck in my mind and I wonder if anyone can enlighten me about the this bridge.

[37114]

13 hours ago, jools1959 said:

Bit of a wild goose chase but in the 1960’s, when as a kid, used to travel with my family to see my grandmother along the A4 (before the M4 was built) in Weston-super-Mare.  I seem to remember a strange overbridge on the A4 in the Somerset/Wiltshire border area.

 

I think it was near Devizes as there was a lifted railway line which ran underneath it could be the Devizes branch or S&D.  It was strange as there was a T- Junction on the top of the bridge.  It’s always stuck in my mind and I wonder if anyone can enlighten me about the this bridge.

Hmm, the only one I can think of which is broadly in the right area (Somerset/ Wiltshire border) is the one by Monkton Coombe/Limpley stoke over the camerton Branch where the A36 joins the B3108, still is a bottle neck today with the T junction on top of the bridge:

 

 

 

[37114]

13 hours ago, jools1959 said:

Bit of a wild goose chase but in the 1960’s, when as a kid, used to travel with my family to see my grandmother along the A4 (before the M4 was built) in Weston-super-Mare.  I seem to remember a strange overbridge on the A4 in the Somerset/Wiltshire border area.

 

I think it was near Devizes as there was a lifted railway line which ran underneath it could be the Devizes branch or S&D.  It was strange as there was a T- Junction on the top of the bridge.  It’s always stuck in my mind and I wonder if anyone can enlighten me about the this bridge.

Thinking about it the other option could be Chelwood Bridge on the Bath to Weston road (which would make more sense if you came down the A4) but this was more of a cross roads with the A37, it crossed over one of the old Somerset coal branches near Pensford. The bridge was a pain in the neck as it was basically single carriage way for large vehicles so in the early 90s it was demolished and a large roundabout installed.

[TravisM]

6 hours ago, 37114 said:

Thinking about it the other option could be Chelwood Bridge on the Bath to Weston road (which would make more sense if you came down the A4) but this was more of a cross roads with the A37, it crossed over one of the old Somerset coal branches near Pensford. The bridge was a pain in the neck as it was basically single carriage way for large vehicles so in the early 90s it was demolished and a large roundabout installed.

Thanks @37114 it’s probably Chelwood Bridge but from a very vague memory (I was only 6 or 7 at the time), heading west, there was a slight climb to the top of the bridge but I’m not sure if there was a set of traffic lights at the junction, and I think we had to turn right but like I say, it’s a memory from the mists of time.

[Tim V]

7 hours ago, 37114 said:

Thinking about it the other option could be Chelwood Bridge on the Bath to Weston road (which would make more sense if you came down the A4) but this was more of a cross roads with the A37, it crossed over one of the old Somerset coal branches near Pensford. The bridge was a pain in the neck as it was basically single carriage way for large vehicles so in the early 90s it was demolished and a large roundabout installed.

Not demolished, I was told. The bridge was listed - because it had a cross roads on it. It was buried -  it's supposed to be under the roundabout. From Bath you would have gone straight on at the cross roads - there were traffic lights on it. There was indeed a climb up to the bridge. The parapet was always getting demolished by lorries!

 

The line was closed in 1968 and was lifted at that point by about 1970.

[keefer]

1958 OS 1:25000

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.440588044394767&lat=51.35556&lon=-2.54199&layers=10&b=1

 

Older OS 25-inch:

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.214451919849285&lat=51.35459&lon=-2.54077&layers=168&b=1

Edited May 18, 2021 by keefer

[37114]

3 hours ago, Tim V said:

Not demolished, I was told. The bridge was listed - because it had a cross roads on it. It was buried -  it's supposed to be under the roundabout. From Bath you would have gone straight on at the cross roads - there were traffic lights on it. There was indeed a climb up to the bridge. The parapet was always getting demolished by lorries!

 

The line was closed in 1968 and was lifted at that point by about 1970.

That would make sense, I know my Dad and I stopped while they were mid work on it and I remember thinking it odd that they were piling a load of mud up under the arch, and the road surface seems higher now than I recall it being with the bridge. It would also explain the odd shape roundabout that is oval in shape but at a 45 degree angle in each direction.