The Twin Sails Bridge...

The Indian summer experienced by most of the UK at the beginning of the month has long gone, but in some parts of the South, at least, we are still getting relatively good weather with temperatures remaining in the high teens Celsius: still bike weather.

Yesterday, whilst out riding, I unexpectedly happened upon the construction of a new lifting bridge being built in Poole, Dorset. I knew construction was underway and had made loose plans to photograph the process, but what with one thing and another it had slipped my mind. As a result the camera lens I was carrying was totally unsuitable for the job.

Today started clear and sunny, so I took the opportunity to return to the site, this time tooled-up with the right glass. The two 65 tonne leaves of the Twin Sails Bridge, each operated by two hydraulic rams, are not quite identical at this point, but the bridge is not scheduled to be opened until January of next year. When operational, the bridge will take two minutes to open, with a planned 3,500 lifts a year.

12-24mm f/4 Nikkor. 1/500 second at f/11. ISO 200

© 2011