From the very first drilling through the entire ten year building process, this documentary details the construction of what proved to be the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world for 17 years - the Humber Bridge.  The documentary includes the entirety of the Queen’s opening speech and was originally broadcast on 17th July, 1983. Title – Spanning the Humber Narrated by Redvers Kyle The film begins with an aerial view of the newly constructed bridge while the narration provides...

From the very first drilling through the entire ten year building process, this documentary details the construction of what proved to be the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world for 17 years - the Humber Bridge.  The documentary includes the entirety of the Queen’s opening speech and was originally broadcast on 17th July, 1983. Title – Spanning the Humber Narrated by Redvers Kyle The film begins with an aerial view of the newly constructed bridge while the narration provides a potted history of how the Humber had been crossed in the past, and how the idea for a bridge developed.  There are shots of Hull’s shopping centres and a quick tour of many of the companies located in Hull and Humberside, including Reckitt and Colman, Donaldson, BP Chemicals, Fisons Fertilizer, Conoco Petroleum, and Appleby and Frodingham Steel Works, where workmen can be seen at work in the foundry.   This is followed by a drive through the city centre, past the museum and Queen’s Gardens.  There is a shot of the city taken from on top of the Wilberforce statue.  The film then moves on to the University and Hull Docks where grain is being loaded into lorries.  Immingham Docks, Grimsby Fish Docks and Princess Margaret Terminals, with the North Sea ferries, are also filmed.  Finally, it shows a plane landing at Humberside Airport. The film then gives a brief history of the project for a Bridge, showing first the ferry, then the explaining the setting up of the Humber Bridge Board in 1959, followed by the government giving the go-ahead for the project in 1969.  A diagram shows the basic design for the bridge and comparisons with similar bridges.  The construction begins next to a golf course.  New roads and bridges to the site are built.  There is a view of the anchor point at Hessle from the air, showing the 70 foot hole in the ground, into which a steel frame is being erected and concrete sections inserted as well as the steel supports for the cables.  The access roads are seen on the south side and the temporary jetty island to enable the construction of the support towers.  A diagram explains the design.  Dredging is undertaken, and construction gets going on the steel frame for the concrete platform.  The towers are built with slipform concrete, a job that takes 19 weeks.  On completion, the workmen have a celebration drink on top of the tower. There is more landscaping, and roads are built as well as the toll barrier.  Then the first of the cables is put into place with three men taking it out into the water with a rope.  A footbridge is constructed for laying the cables, using 44,000 miles of steel wire in total.  This is shown being bound into cable.  Further along at Priory Yard the roadway sections are being assembled, all 124 of them.  These are welded together and floated down the Humber to the bridge where they are hoisted up by gantry cranes and put into place.  This is done from each end and from the centre out.  The bridge slowly takes on its curved shape.  Once in place asphalt is laid on top.  The wires for the catwalk are taken down and used for crash barriers.  The road sections are welded together, and the bridge painted.  The finished bridge is then shown from various angles. The film finishes with the Opening Ceremony.  Queen Elizabeth II arrives to a cheering crowd.  The Queen gives her speech, and the Bridge is officially open to traffic as the Queen gives her closing statement saying Humber Bridge gives hope for the future. End Credits: Written by Michael Scarborough and Malcolm Leach Edited by Malcolm McDonell The Music of Anton Bruckner and Anthony Hedges Produced by Peter Max-Wilson A Film by Yorkshire Television for The Humber Bridge Board