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Original Text (Annotation: EPW034461 / 288203)
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The Clifton Suspension Bridge was Brunel's first major project. The asymmetry of the valley required rather different construction for each tower. On the north side the slope rises cliff-like to a shoulder, upon which a relatively low abutment was built on solid rock to carry the north tower. On the south side the slope is closer to 45 degrees requiring a footing to be made and a considerable amount of masonry to be put in place before the south tower and the approach road could be built. The southern Leigh Woods abutment appears from the outside to be solid. However, it contains a series of large faults arranged in a way that maintain the strength of the structure under the tower while keeping the weight of material to be placed on the slope as low as possible. The difficulties experienced in the work caused the construction period, initial set at 12 to 15 months, to take from 1835 to 1840 and to push the cost £2,000 over the estimated £8,000. '
