Plate-Girder Bridge

This is a long, three-arch plate-girder bridge built in 1903. It features a wide deck supported by piers and abutments made of snecked stone, with the piers extending as cut-waters. The angled abutments have quoins and concrete copings. The parapets are divided into three sections, one for each arch, with each section containing one row of riveted wrought iron plates beneath a top rail that curves down at the ends. Narrow iron railings with fleur-de-lis finials fill the gaps between each section. The central section's parapets are slightly raised and have a narrow top rail. An oval iron plaque, which is not decipherable, is mounted in the center of the south face. The flanking sections have heavy riveted top rails, and open iron handrails are attached to the parapets, featuring circular posts, a top rail, a mid rail, and small ball finials. The abutments extend into the river banks and support similar railings. The ends of the bridge are marked by large square stone piers topped with moulded arched capstones that have margin drafting. The south piers support large decorative iron vases with finials, although those on the north piers may be missing. A large stone tablet on the inside face of the northwest pier commemorates the bridge's construction by the Aberavon Corporation, opened by Sir Arthur Vivian KCB on October 29, 1903, with engineer J. Roderick and contractors Clark & Co. Major T. A. Burgess was involved, along with town clerk M. Tennant. There is also an additional pier at the northeast end of the east abutment. The bridge has a wide two-carriageway deck with pavements on each side.