List of bridges in Cambridge


The following is a list and brief history of the bridges in Cambridge, England, principally those over the River Cam of which there are 25, soon to be 26.
The River Cam enters Cambridge from the south west of the city and heads north past many of the historic colleges of the University of Cambridge along the open area known as The Backs. After passing St John's College, it turns sharply and runs east, passing the weir at Jesus Green and the boathouses alongside Midsummer Common. Passing Chesterton, it turns north again and leaves the city, running a further before merging with the Great Ouse at Pope's Corner to the south of Ely.

Bridges over the River Cam (south to north)

Upper River (upstream of mill pond weir)

Trumpington Bridge (1790)

The most upstream bridge in Cambridge lies along Grantchester Road between Grantchester and Trumpington. Also known as Brasel Bridge, this 1790 brick bridge replaced a wooden bridge at the site of a ford.

Footbridge, Coe Fen

Links Coe Fen behind The Leys School over a second small bridge to Lammas Land, near the area known as Hobson's Paradise. Also known as Sheep's Green bridge, it was closed in the second quarter of 2006 to replace the steps with ramps to make it easier for cyclists and prams to cross. The bridge decking was also replaced.

Fen Causeway">Fen Causeway, Cambridge">Fen Causeway Bridge (1926)

The first road bridge that is reached as the river enters the city. The road was formally opened on 9 December 1926. The bridge is sometimes called the "Lesbian Bridge", from the nature of the graffiti sometimes written on its underside.

Crusoe Bridge (1898–99)

A steel footbridge with timber deck and supported on four cast-iron columns, linking Sheep's Green and Coe Fen, and the final bridge on the 'Upper River' before it reaches the small weir at the mill pond.

Middle River (between mill pond weir and Jesus Green weir)

Darwin College">Darwin College, Cambridge">Darwin College Bridges

Two wooden bridges within the college grounds connecting the main site with the college's two islands.

[Silver Street Bridge] (1958)

The site of bridges back to the 14th century, a cast iron bridge was built in 1843 but increasing heavy traffic led to a 1913 survey that determined the need for a new bridge. Repairs, however, allowed the bridge to last for a further 40 years. The present wide bridge, clad in Portland stone was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1932 and built in 1958-9.

[Mathematical Bridge], Queens' College">Queens' College, Cambridge">Queens' College (1902)

This is the third version of the design, first built in 1749.

King's College">King's College, Cambridge">King's College Bridge (1819)

The first bridge on the site was built in the 15th century, and has been rebuilt several times before the current incarnation, designed by William Wilkins and built by Francis Braidwood.

Clare College">Clare College, Cambridge">Clare College Bridge (1640)

The oldest of Cambridge's current bridges, this bridge in classical style was built in 1639–40 by Thomas Grumbold It is one of two bridges left standing by the Parliamentarian forces in the Civil War when Cromwell used the stone from other bridges to refortify the castle. Many different stories are told to explain the missing section of the globe second from the left on the south side of the bridge. One rumour is that the builder of the bridge received insufficient payment, and in his anger, removed a segment of the globe; another is that complete bridges were subject to a tax at the time it was built, and the missing segment made the bridge incomplete and hence untaxed.

Garret Hostel Bridge (1960)

At least the eighth bridge on this site on Garret Hostel Lane between the colleges of Trinity and Trinity Hall. The current design is by Timothy Guy Morgan, who at the time was an undergraduate student at Jesus College, after an open competition. Morgan died in 1960, before the bridge was completed. It was one of the first post-tensioned concrete bridges in the country. Known to students locally as “orgasm bridge”.

Trinity College Bridge">Trinity College, Cambridge#Trinity Bridge">Trinity College Bridge (1764)

Designed by James Essex, it replaced a stone bridge built in 1651, which in turn replaced a stone bridge pulled down in 1643 by Cromwellian soldiers as a defence during the English Civil War.
It is a Grade I listed building.

Kitchen Bridge, St John's College">St John's College, Cambridge">St John's College (1709–11)

The second oldest of Cambridge's remaining bridges, built by Robert Grumbold according to designs by Sir Christopher Wren. The bridge was crafted from a single block of limestone, carved to give the appearance of masonry.

Bridge of Sighs">Bridge of Sighs (Cambridge)">Bridge of Sighs, St John's College">St John's College, Cambridge">St John's College (1831)

Probably Cambridge's best-known bridge, designed by Henry Hutchinson and based on a similarly named bridge in Venice, although the only real similarity between them is that they are both covered bridges over waterways.. A bridge in Oxford, also nicknamed "The Bridge of Sighs" but more reminiscent of the Rialto Bridge, links two sites of Hertford College, but it bridges New College Lane rather than a river or canal.

[Magdalene Bridge] (1823)

Named after Magdalene College, which stands nearby. It is very close to the location of the Roman ford, and the location of the first bridge in Cambridge.
The latest bridge was designed by Arthur Browne in Gothic revival style and was rebuilt in the same style in 1982.

Lower River (downstream of Jesus Green weir)

[Jesus Lock footbridge] (1892)

An iron bridge over the weir that divides the 'Middle River' from the 'Lower River', where punting gives way to rowing.

[Victoria Avenue Bridge] (1890)

Allowed the residents of Chesterton easy access to the city for the first time. The foundation stone was laid by Frederic Wace, mayor of Cambridge, on 4 November 1889 and the bridge was officially opened by Wace on 11 December 1890. The bridge was rebuilt for strengthening in 1992.

Fort St George footbridge, Midsummer Common

Named after the Fort St George pub near its southern end. This bridge is now open for use by cyclists.

Cutter Ferry Bridge

A pedestrian and cycle bridge that links Cutter Ferry Lane with Midsummer Common. The original footbridge was closed in 2003 after over 75 years of service, and removed during December 2004. The replacement, over which cyclists may now legally cycle, was opened on 20 May 2005.
Also known by Cambridge residents as Pye's Bridge because of the one-time nearby Pye electronics factory, and by student rowers as Emma Bridge because of its proximity to Emmanuel College Boathouse.

[Elizabeth Way Bridge] (1971)

A plain four-carriageway concrete bridge, opened by Lord Butler in his capacity as High Steward of Cambridge on 13 July 1971, this is Cambridge's most recent road bridge. The opening caused a few minutes of embarrassment when Lord Butler's golden scissors failed to cut the ribbon across the road. The bridge forms part of Elizabeth Way.

Riverside Bridge (2008)

The most recent river crossing connects Chesterton and Riverside near the Museum of Technology. Construction work began in April 2007, and the foot and cycle bridge opened to the public on 5 June 2008. It cost £3.1 million and was partially funded by Tesco to provide increased access to its Newmarket Road store.

Green Dragon bridge, Stourbridge Common

Named after the Green Dragon pub opposite its northern end. Also known to student rowers as 'Chesterton Footbridge' as it crosses over what they know as 'Chesterton Corner'.

Railway Bridge

Crosses the river through east Chesterton, south of the A14 bridge. It is the third railway bridge to be built on this site, replacing a plain plate girder bridge which stood on the site between 1870 and 1930, which itself replaced a wooden bridge built in 1846.

Abbey Chesterton Bridge (under construction)

The Abbey Chesterton Bridge is being built at Ditton Meadows. Estimated cost is £4.5 million

A14">A14 road (England)">A14 Bridge

Known to rowers and others as the "Motorway Bridge". Crosses the river just south of Baits Bite Lock. This bridge is also sometimes referred to as 'Bovis Bridge'.

Footbridge over the weir, [Baits Bite Lock]

An elevated footbridge crosses Baits Bite Lock in Milton to a narrow islet. A concrete-arch footbridge then crosses the weir to the east bank near Horningsea.

Other bridges