Kings Bridge (Glasgow)

This article is about the bridge in Glasgow.
For other bridges with the same name, see Kings Bridge.

Kings Bridge across the Clyde

King's Bridge is a multi span bridge carrying the A74 over the Clyde in Glasgow. It is of an unusual design for its date (1933), being built of concrete but with flat, rather than arched spans. Three of the four spans cross the river, the fourth spans a pathway in Glasgow Green on the east bank. The concrete piers, however, all stand in the river bed and are protected with rounded cutwaters. Each of the piers has two small arched openings at the base, visible when the river is low. They then rise as a solid mass to the deck above. The deck is, in turn, supported by rivetted steel girders, although the outer faces are clad in concrete with an art deco frieze design to hide the steelwork within. The bridge carries a wide carriageway, which is probably wide enough for four lanes of traffic, but only lined for two except at the western end where the zig-zags for a nearby crossing extend over the abutment. There are also wide pavements on both sides. The concrete parapets are lined to look like coursed stonework and have substantial concrete blocks above the bridge piers.