Editing Chelsea Bridge (section)

{{short description|Bridge over the River Thames in west London}}
{{other uses|Chelsea (disambiguation)}}
{{for-multi|the Billy Strayhorn song|Chelsea Bridge (song)|the Canadian jazz quartet|Chelsea Bridge (quartet)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox bridge
| bridge_name   = Chelsea Bridge 
| image         = Chelsea Bridge, London.jpg
| alt           = Suspension bridge crossing a wide river, under blue skies with clouds. The main cables are red and the towers white.
| caption       = 
| official_name = 
| carries       = [[A3216 road]]
| crosses       = [[River Thames]]
| preceded      = [[Albert Bridge, London|Albert Bridge]]
| followed      = [[Grosvenor Bridge|Grosvenor Railway Bridge]]
| locale        = [[Battersea]] and [[Chelsea, London]]
| maint         = [[Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council]]
| id            = 
| designer      = [[G. Topham Forrest]] and [[E. P. Wheeler]]
| design        = [[Self-anchored suspension bridge]]
| material      = [[Steel]]
| spans         = 3
| pierswater    = 2
| mainspan      = {{convert|332|ft|m}}
| length        = {{convert|698|ft|m}}
| width         = {{convert|64|ft|m}}
| height        = {{convert|69|ft|2|in|m}}
| load          = 
| clearance     = 
| below         = {{convert|42|ft|9|in|m}} at [[lowest astronomical tide]]<ref name="Thames Bridges Heights" />
| traffic       = 29,375 vehicles (2004){{sfn|Cookson|2006|p=316}}
| begin         = 
| complete      = 
| open          = {{Start date and age|df=y|1937|5|6}}
| heritage      = [[Listed building|Grade II listed structure]]
| collapsed     = 
| replaces      = Victoria Bridge (1858–1935), also known as Old Chelsea Bridge
| closed        = 
| toll          = 
| map_cue       = 
| map_image     = 
| map_text      = 
| map_width     = 
| coordinates   = {{coord|51|29|5|N|0|9|0|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| lat           = 
| long          = 
| extra         = 
}}

'''Chelsea Bridge''' is a bridge over the [[River Thames]] in west [[London]], connecting [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]] on the north bank to [[Battersea]] on the south bank, and split between the [[City of Westminster]], the [[London Borough of Wandsworth]] and the [[Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]]. There have been two Chelsea Bridges, on the site of what was an ancient [[ford (crossing)|ford]].

The first Chelsea Bridge was proposed in the 1840s as part of a major development of marshlands on the south bank of the Thames into the new [[Battersea Park]]. It was a [[suspension bridge]] intended to provide convenient access from the densely populated north bank to the new park. Although built and operated by the government, [[toll bridge|tolls]] were charged initially in an effort to recoup the cost of the bridge. Work on the nearby [[Chelsea Embankment]] delayed construction and so the bridge, initially called '''Victoria Bridge''', did not open until 1858. Although well-received architecturally, as a toll bridge it was unpopular with the public, and Parliament felt obliged to make it toll-free on Sundays. The bridge was less of a commercial success than had been anticipated, partly because of competition from the newly built [[Albert Bridge, London|Albert Bridge]] nearby. It was acquired by the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]] in 1877, and the tolls were abolished in 1879.

The bridge was narrow and structurally unsound, leading the authorities to rename it Chelsea Bridge to avoid the royal family's association with a potential collapse. In 1926 it was proposed that the old bridge be rebuilt or replaced, due to the increased volume of users from population growth, and the introduction of the automobile. It was demolished during 1934–1937, and replaced by the current structure, which opened in 1937.

The new bridge was the first [[self-anchored suspension bridge]] in Britain, and was built entirely with materials sourced from within the [[British Empire]]. During the early 1950s it became popular with [[motorcyclist]]s, who staged regular races across the bridge. One such meeting in 1970 erupted into violence, resulting in the death of one man and the imprisonment of 20 others. Chelsea Bridge is floodlit from below during the hours of darkness, when the towers and cables are illuminated by {{convert|936|ft|m}} of [[light-emitting diode]]s. In 2008 it achieved [[listed building|Grade II listed]] status.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1393009| desc=  CHELSEA BRIDGE |access-date = 26 May 2015}}</ref> In 2004 a footbridge was opened beneath the southern span, carrying the [[Thames Path]] under the bridge.