List of crossings of the River Aire explained

This is a list of current bridges and other crossings of the River Aire and are listed from source downstream to the river's mouth.

Crossings

Source to Apperley Bridge

Crossing	Location	Type	Co-ordinates	Date opened	Notes
Hanlith Bridge	Kirkby Malham	Road bridge		18th century
Airton Bridge	Airton	Road bridge		19th century
Bell Busk Bridge	Bell Busk	Road bridge		18th century
Bell Busk Viaduct	Bell Busk	Railway bridge		1849[1]	Viaduct carrying the Leeds - Morecambe line[2]
Coniston Bridge	Coniston Cold	Road bridge		1763	Bridge carries A65 road
Priest Holme Aqueduct	Gargrave	Canal aqueduct		1790	Aqueduct carrying Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Priest Holme Bridge	Gargrave	Railway bridge		1849	Carries Leeds - Morecambe railway line
Stepping stones	Gargrave	pedestrians			Stepping stones in use when river is in low flow[3] [4]
Gargrave Bridge	Gargrave	Road bridge		19th century
Niffany Viaduct	Skipton	Railway bridge		1849	Carries Leeds - Morecambe railway line
Inghey River Bridge	Skipton	Road bridge			Carries A59 road[5]
Inghey Bridge	Skipton	Pedestrians		1773	Former A59 bridge made redundant to vehicular traffic when Skipton bypass was opened in the 1980s.[6]
Carleton Bridge	Carleton	Road bridge		1825 - 1827	Formerly main route south through the Aire Valley from Skipton
Railway bridge	Snaygill, Skipton	Railway bridge			Carries Airedale Line
Cononley Bridge	Cononley	Road bridge			[7]
Kildwick Bridge (A629)	Kildwick	Road bridge		August 1988	Carries the A629 Kildwick bypass[8]
Kildwick Bridge	Kildwick	Road bridge		1313[9]	Grade I listed bridge bypassed in August 1988 but still open to local traffic
Silsden Bridge	Silsden	Road bridge		1790	Carries A6034 road[10]
Unnamed bridge	Utley	Road bridge			Carries road to golf club
Stock Bridge	Stockbridge, Keighley	Road bridge		1930[11]	Road bridge carrying the B6265 (formerly carried the A650 road, bypassed in October 1988)[12]
Unnamed bridge	Crossflatts	Road bridge		October 1988	Carries the A650 road
Unnamed bridge	Crossflatts	Railway bridge			Carries the Airedale Line (includes two spans, one disused)
Ireland Bridge	Bingley	Road bridge		1686	Carries the B6429 road between Bingley and Cullingworth.
Unnamed bridge	Bingley	Footbridge			Footbridge in Myrtle Park[13] [14]
Unnamed bridge	Bingley	Footbridge			Footbridge in Myrtle Park
Cottingley Bridge	Cottingley	Road bridge			Formerly carried the A650 bridge (bypassed in 2003) now carries B6265[15]
Unnamed bridge	Cottingley	Fresh water pipe		1899	Castellated bridge that acts as a siphon for the Nidd Aqueduct[16]
Cottingley Viaduct	Cottingley	Road bridge		December 2003[17]	Dual carriageway road (A650 bypass) across Aire Valley[18]
River Aire Viaduct	Dowley Gap	Railway bridge			Carries Airedale Line
Dowley Gap Aqueduct (Seven Arches Aqueduct)	Dowley Gap	Canal aqueduct		1773	Carries Leeds and Liverpool Canal[19]
Unnamed footbridge	Saltaire	Pedestrian footbridge			Links Saltaire with Roberts Park on the north bank of the river
Otley Road Bridge	Shipley	Road Bridge			Carries A6038 road between Shipley and Guiseley
Charlestown Viaduct	Baildon	Railway viaduct			Carries Wharfedale line
Buck Mill Bridge	Thackley	Pedestrian bridge		1889	[20]
Esholt Bridges	Esholt	Sewer pipes			[21]
Apperley Viaducts	Apperley Bridge	Railway bridge		1867/1900	Carries Airedale Line on 1900 viaduct; 1867 viaduct still standing but unused[22] [23]
The Bridge	Apperley Bridge	Road bridge			Carries minor road
Unnamed bridge	Apperley Bridge	Road bridge			Carries A658 road
Woodhouse Bridge	Apperley Bridge	Railway bridge			Carries both Airedale and Wharfedale lines

Calverley to Knowsthorpe

Crossing	Location	Type	Co-ordinates	Date opened	Notes
Calverley Viaduct	Calverley	Railway bridge			Carries Airedale Line
Calverley Bridge	Calverley Bridge	Pedestrian bridge		1775	Former road bridge superseded by A6120 bridge just to the east
Unnamed bridge	Calverley Bridge	Road bridge			Carries A6120 Leeds Ring Road
Unnamed bridge	Rodley	Road bridge			Carries traffic to and from Rodley Nature Reserve[24]
Unnamed bridge	Newlay	Railway bridge			Carries Airedale Line
Newlay Bridge (Pollard Bridge)	Newlay	Pedestrian bridge		1819	Carries pedestrian traffic
Unnamed bridge	Kirkstall Forge	Road bridge			Girder bridge part of the former Kirkstall Forge Engineering plant[25] [26]
Unnamed bridge	Kirkstall Forge	Road bridge		2015	Carries traffic to and from Kirkstall Forge railway station only[27]
Unnamed bridge	Kirkstall Forge	Pedestrian bridge			Pedestrian bridge between buildings on the former Kirkstall Forge Engineering plant[28]
Kirkstall Forge Viaduct	Kirkstall Forge	Railway bridge			Carries Airedale Line
Kirkstall Bridge	Kirkstall	Road bridge		1912	Carries B6157 road
Kirkstall ford and weir	Kirkstall	Pedestrian crossing			Gritstone ford across to island between the river and millrace
Gott's Bridge	Kirkstall Valley	Road bridge			Bridge built to enable millworkers to cross between Armley and Kirkstall. Latterly provided access to Kirkstall Power Station before closure.[29]
Buffalo Bill Bridge	Armley	Pedestrian bridge			Pedestrian access bridge to Armley Mills Industrial Museum,[30] [31] routinely locked when the museum is closed.
Unnamed bridge	Burley	Rail and pipe bridge			Disused rail bridge that had carried railway exhibits to Armley Mills Industrial Museum[32] Partially demolished during Storm Franklin, 2022.[33]
Milford Place Bridge	Burley	Pedestrian bridge
Kirkstall Viaduct	Burley	Railway bridge		1849	Railway name is Kirkstall Viaduct (even though it is in Burley) as it goes over Kirkstall Road[34] [35] [36]
Viaduct Road Bridge	Burley	Road bridge
Wellington Bridge	Leeds	Road bridge		Original 1819	Carries A58 road
Unnamed bridge	Leeds	Railway viaduct		1846	Disused viaduct to the former Leeds Central and Leeds Wellington (goods) railway stations
Monk Bridge	Leeds	Road bridge		1886	Carries Whitehall Road
Whitehall Riverside Bridge	Leeds	Pedestrian bridge		2007	[37]
Leeds railway station	Leeds	Railway bridge		1854/1869[38]	Carries the whole of the west end of Leeds railway station[39] [40]
Waterman's Bridge	Leeds	Pedestrian bridge		2008
Victoria Bridge	Leeds	Road bridge		1839	Carries Neville Street[41]
David Oluwale Bridge	Leeds	Pedestrian and bike bridge		2023	Links Water Lane and Sovereign St
Leeds Bridge	Leeds	Road bridge		1873	Carries Bridge End road. The world's first moving images were shot of traffic on the bridge by Louis Le Prince in 1888[42]
Centenary Footbridge	Leeds	Pedestrian bridge		1993	Opened to commemorate 100 years of city status for Leeds[43]
Crown Point Bridge	Leeds	Road bridge		1842	Carries the A61 road
Knight's Way Bridge	Leeds	Pedestrian bridge		2007	Opened to allow pedestrian traffic between Clarence Dock and Fearn's Island areas[44]
Climate Innovation District Bridge	Leeds	Pedestrian bridge		2019	Connects the two sites that comprise a new residential development
Richmond Bridge	Leeds	Road bridge			Carries A61 road[45]
Unnamed bridge	Thwaite Gate	Gas pipeline			Carries gas pipeline[46]
Skelton Grange Road Bridge	Thwaite Mills	Private road			Carries private road[47]

Stourton to river mouth

Crossing	Location	Type	Co-ordinates	Date opened	Notes
Aire Valley Viaduct	Stourton	Road bridge		1999	Carries extension of M1 motorway to A1(M) motorway at Hook Moor[48] [49]
Unnamed bridge	Rothwell	Railway bridge (disused)			Carried former Skelton to Rothwell colliery line[50]
Skelton Bridge	Rothwell	Pedestrian bridge		2017	New path and cycleway to connect paths on either side of the river and canal[51]
Swillington Bridge	Swillington	Road bridge			Carries A642 road
Unnamed bridge	Methley	Road bridge			Carries pathways and walking trails
Shan House Bridge	Methley	Road bridge			Carries pathways and walking trails
Pit Lane Footbridge	Methley	Road bridge			Carries pathways and walking trails
Castleford Bridge (Millennium Bridge)	Castleford	Pedestrian bridge		2008	Bridge was opened as part of the town's regeneration and also filmed for Channel 4's Grand Designs programme[52] [53] [54] [55]
Castleford Bridge	Castleford	Road bridge		1808	Carries the A656 road
Unnamed bridge	Castleford	Road bridge			Carries path
Unnamed bridge	Castleford	Road bridge			Carries road
Castleford Viaduct	Castleford	Disused railway		1878[56]	Girder bridge that used to carry the Castleford - Garforth railway line; may re-open as a cycle and footpath[57] [58]
Aire Bridge	Fairburn	Railway bridge			Carries railway line
Lagentium Bridge	Brotherton	Road bridge		2006	Bridge carries A1(M)[59]
Unnamed bridge	Brotherton	Pipe bridge			Carries pipes
Brotherton Bridge	Brotherton	Railway bridge			Carries railway line[60] [61]
Ferry Bridge	Ferrybridge	Pedestrian bridge		1804	Former road bridge
Unnamed bridge	Ferrybridge	Road bridge			Carries A162 road
Unnamed bridge	Willow Garth	Pipeline			Carries pipeline[62]
Beal Bridge	Beal	Road bridge			Carries local road
Haddlesey Bridge	Chapel Haddlesey	Road bridge			Carries A19 road
Temple Hirst Bridges	Temple Hirst	Railway bridges			Railway bridges carrying lines between and, and Doncaster and
Aire Bridge (River Aire Viaduct)	Gowdall	Railway bridge			Carries freight railway to Drax Power Station
Carlton New Bridge	Snaith	Road bridge		1928	Carries A1041 road
Newland Bridge	Newland	Road bridge		1991	Carries A645 road[63] [64]

See also

• List of crossings of the River Calder

References

Sources

• Book: Brailsford, Martyn. Railway Track Diagrams Book 2: Eastern. 4. 2016. Trackmaps. Frome. 978-0-9549866-8-1.

Notes and References

1. Book: Binns. D. 'Little' North Western railway : Skipton-Ingleton Clapham-Lancaster & Morecambe.. 1982. Wyvern Publications. Skipton. 0-907941-01-X. 9.
2. Yorkshire Dales - Southern & Western Area . OL2 . 2016 . 1:25,000 . Explorer . Ordnance Survey . 9780319263310 .
3. News: Hundreds protest at Millennium bridge plan. 2 January 2018. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 19 May 1999.
4. Web site: Hipping-Stones alias Stepping Stones. www.northcravenheritage.org.uk. 3 January 2018.
5. Web site: Critical Highway Infrastructure. democracy.northyorks.gov.uk. North Yorkshire County Council. 3 January 2018. 7. PDF. 11 November 2016.
6. Web site: Skipton Traffic Management Strategy. northyorks.gov.uk. 3 January 2018. 5. May 2004.
7. Web site: Cononley bridge - Cononley; River Aire. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. 3 January 2018.
8. Web site: House of Commons Hansard Debates for 19 Jan 1995. publications.parliament.uk. 3 January 2018.
9. Web site: Kildwick Bridge, Kildwick, North Yorkshire Educational Images Historic England. historicengland.org.uk. 3 January 2018.
10. South Pennines . OL21 . 2015 . 1:25,000 . Explorer . Ordnance Survey . 9780319242605 .
11. News: Shand. Alistair. Stockbridge scene which would change dramatically. 3 January 2018. Keighley News. 9 October 2014.
12. Leeds and Bradford . 104 . 2016. 1:50,000 . Landranger . Ordnance Survey . 9780319262023 .
13. Bradford & Huddersfield . 288 . 2015 . 1:25,000 . Explorer . Ordnance Survey . 9780319244852 .
14. News: Wilde. Claire. REVEALED: The roads and bridges Bradford Council will repair with £2.5m Government flood grant. 3 January 2018. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 4 April 2016.
15. Web site: Cottingley bridge - Cottingley; River Aire. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. 3 January 2018.
16. Web site: Bridge for Syphon over River Aire at Cottingley. www.gracesguide.co.uk. 3 January 2018. en.
17. News: Relief as road opens. 3 January 2018. BBC News. 22 December 2003.
18. Web site: POPE Five Years After Study A650 Bingley Relief Road. highways.gov.uk. 3 January 2018. 5. August 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816224220/http://assets.highways.gov.uk/our-road-network/pope/major-schemes/A650%20Bingley%20Relief%20Road/POPE%20_%20A650%20Bingley%20FYA%20_%20website%20part%20A.pdf. 16 August 2016. dead.
19. News: Tate. Chris. Historic Bingley aqueduct to be opened to the public during annual maintenance work. 4 January 2018. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 11 January 2013.
20. Web site: Routes and Transport: shaping Buck Wood. friendsofbuckwood.org.uk. 4 January 2018.
21. Web site: Esholt sewage disposal scheme. archive.org. Bradford : Wm. Byles. 4 January 2018. 67. 1912.
22. News: Priestley. Mike. And the viaduct came tumbling. 4 January 2018. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 15 January 2008.
23. Book: Thompson. W J. A Brief guide to the industrial heritage of West Yorkshire. 1989. Association for Industrial Archaeology. Ironbridge. 0-9508448-3-7. 33.
24. Web site: Plan your visit – Rodley Nature Reserve. www.rodleynaturereserve.org. 5 January 2018.
25. Web site: Kirkstall Forge Bridge (C) Rich Tea. www.geograph.org.uk. 5 January 2018.
26. Web site: Sheard. Dave. Kirkstall Forge, bridge crossing the River Aire from the Stamp Shop to the Steel Yard.. leodis.net. 5 January 2018.
27. Web site: New bridge erected at Kirkstall Forge.. www.ceg.co.uk. 5 January 2018.
28. Web site: Sheard. Dave. Kirkstall Forge, Bridge between Stamp Shop Maintenance and the Stamp Shop. leodis.net. 5 January 2018.
29. Web site: River Aire, aerial view. leodis.net. 5 January 2018.
30. Web site: Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills Museum LeedsWest Yorkshire. www.visitleeds.co.uk. 5 January 2018.
31. Leeds. 289. 2015. 1:25,000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. 9780319244869 .
32. Web site: Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills Museum LeedsWest Yorkshire. www.visitleeds.co.uk. 5 January 2018.
33. Web site: Astonishing footage shows moment Armley Mills bridge is destroyed by pontoon during flooding in Leeds LeedsWest Yorkshire. www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 24 February 2022.
34. Bairstow in "Railways Through Airedale and Wharfedale" lists it as Burley Viaduct
35. Book: Bairstow. Martin. Railways Through Airedale and Wharfedale. 2004. Bairstow. Farsley. 1-871944-28-7. 7.
36. Web site: Network Rail to survey Kirkstall Viaduct - The City Talking. The City Talking. 5 January 2018. 15 October 2013.
37. News: Leeds' new bridge. 6 January 2018. BBC Leeds. 11 September 2007.
38. Book: Burgess. Neil. The Lost Railways of Yorkshire's West Riding. 2014. Stenlake. Catrine. 9781840336573. 56.
39. Book: Hudson. Kenneth. Industrial history from the air. 1984. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. 0-521-25333-0. 95. 1. Railways.
40. News: Newton. Grace. The 'secret' railway station beneath Leeds's modern platforms. 6 January 2018. The Yorkshire Post. 31 May 2017. en.
41. From Victoria Bridge to Richmond Bridge, the River runs in conjunction with the Aire and Calder Navigation
42. News: Youngs. Ian. Why Leeds was the birthplace of film. 7 January 2018. BBC News. 23 June 2015.
43. Book: Wrathmell. Susan. Minnis. John. Leeds. 2005. Yale University Press. New Haven. 0-300-10736-6. 143.
44. Web site: Evans. Robin. Chief Executives Report (2007). britishwaterways.co.uk. 7 January 2018. 8.2. 10. November 2007.
45. Web site: Walk between Clarence Dock - Thwaite Mills. waterways.org.uk. 7 January 2018. 2. PDF.
46. Web site: Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme. leeds.gov.uk. 7 January 2018.
47. Web site: Hobson. R. Planned Highway Asset Maintenance Programmes 2017-18. leeds.gov.uk. 7 January 2018. 25. 14 March 2017.
48. Web site: Post Opening Project Evaluation A1(M) Bramham – Wetherby. highways.gov.uk. 7 January 2018. 7. September 2011. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100915/http://assets.highways.gov.uk/our-road-network/pope/major-schemes/A1-Bramham-Wetherby/A1%20Bramham%20to%20Wetherby%20POPE%20OYA%20-%20website%20version.pdf. dead.
49. Web site: Viaducts, arches and pipes. cbrd.co.uk. 7 January 2018.
50. Web site: Former railway line to Skelton Grange... (C) Christine Johnstone. www.geograph.org.uk. 7 January 2018.
51. Web site: Lee. Rebecca. New bridge joins up east Leeds. www.ciht.org.uk. 8 January 2018. 7 June 2017.
52. Web site: Castleford Footbridge . Website . Castleford Heritage Trust . 4 June 2017.
53. Web site: Castleford Footbridge . Happy Pontist . 4 June 2017.
54. Web site: Castleford Bridge . Trip Advisor. Attraction reviews . 4 June 2017.
55. News: TV star at opening of Castleford bridge. 8 January 2018. Yorkshire Evening Post. 5 July 2008.
56. Web site: Bridges & viaducts. forgottenrelics.co.uk. 8 January 2018.
57. Web site: Methley Lines Disused Railway, Castleford; Cycleway Feasibility Study. wakefield.gov.uk. Sustrans. 8 January 2018. 32.
58. From Castleford Viaduct to A162 road bridge, the River runs in conjunction with the Aire and Calder Navigation
59. Web site: Lagentium Viaduct. Steelconstruction.info. 8 January 2018.
60. Web site: Board papers regarding extreme narrowness of Brotherton Tubular Bridge, near Burton Salmon. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. 8 January 2018.
61. Web site: Brotherton Railway Bridge over the River Aire, Brotherton, 1930. britainfromabove.org.uk. 8 January 2018.
62. York . 290 . 2015 . 1:25,000 . Explorer . Ordnance Survey . 9780319244876 .
63. Web site: Newland Bridge, A645 Mabey - UK. www.mabey.com. 8 January 2018.
64. News: Bridge to close for major repairs. 8 January 2018. BBC News. 19 July 2015.