I took the train into Manchester on Saturday – the main reason being that I’d decided to look for some new walking boots. It was a fine sunny, day and after alighting at Salford Central train station and walking up to Deansgate, I stopped to take a few snaps of the Trinity Bridge, a footbridge that crosses the River Irwell connecting the “twin cities” of Salford and Manchester.
It was designed by the architect, structural engineer and artist, Santiago Calatrava.- it’s his only bridge in the UK – and was opened in 1995.
It’s a cable-stay design with a 41-meter cigar shaped pylon, angled towards Salford, with the cables attached asymmetrically to form a cris-cross effect– rather reminding me of a “Spirograph” pattern.
It’s difficult to take a photo that properly shows the design. On the Salford side there are three ramps, two of which curve in from either side, combining at the pylon to form the deck across the river. The Manchester bank of the Irwell is higher than on the Salford side so the bridge slopes up to meet the bank.
It’s a radical design and there have been some problems with maintenance but there is no doubt that it’s an attractive landmark structure.
Down by the Dougie 
Reblogged this on msamba.
Ah, many happy hours spent with Spirograph!
We need to go boot shopping soon too. We both dumped our summer walking boots before we left Colorado last summer, and my winter ones won’t see another year either, though John’s were new last year. I feel great expense coming on…..
Yes, boots are an expensive, but absolutely necessary, item and don’t last for ever. I’ve had my last pair of boots for several years and it’s time to replace. We’ve got a short walking holiday booked in May so I needed to get new boots to give me time to break them in.
And what ever happened to Spirograph?
I suppose when you can create similar patterns so easily on a screen Spirograph would seem terribly labour intensive to kids today!
Too true
So did you get the boots? There’ll be no stopping you in the Lakes now
Oh yes. I now need to break them in ready for St Cuthberts Way at the end of May. I would have stuck with my old boots I’ve had sfor a while but They’re well used and getting worn so I was told to stop being a scrooge and get some new ones!
Good on you!