Named after Telford's original early 19th century metal bridge, which was replaced in 1916. The replacement lasted until the dualling in 1970.Ruperts Trooper wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 22:18I used the old A74 regularly in '71-72, I certainly recall signs for "Metal Bridge" - there's a hamlet of that name where the A74 crossed the River Esk, just south of the Mossband Viaduct.OLD GIT wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 21:57 Im quite bemused by this topic, as the A74 from it's earlier days ( circa 1968 through to 1978?) was an old friend of mine. I do remember some form of metal bridge over a river near the border,( where the Motorway stopped just before the A74 started) and an old-fashioned truck stop on the Scottish side way back in circa 1971 times.( The truck stop remains in memory, as Swmbo, a dockers daughter, loved the place). Its in times of today that I wish I'd taken photos. But when its a two driver dash from London to north of Glasgow, and spelling it between two drivers, or dashing to & from Middlesbrough , photos are not really a priority.
The old-fashioned truck stop may have been Coatsgate, north of Beattock, which survived until the coming of the motorway.