At West Bridge there was a large girder bridge over the River Soar/Grand Union Canal, and two large steel bridges over roads. All signs of these are long gone, except for the blue bricks on the far side of the river, just below the right end of the new apartment block, which were in the base of the bridge abutment. Looking north towards the Central Station.

Photographed in the opposite direction to the picture above (looking south), with a telephoto lens. There were two large road bridges here, across St. Augustine’s Street and West Bridge Street, and a length of viaduct which linked up with the end of the remaining viaduct in the centre of the picture.

The end of the viaduct, Duns Lane. The “Pump and Tap” pub is on the right.

The end of the viaduct, looking southeast, with the now closed access ramp to the Great Central Way. On the right is the “Pump and Tap” pub which often has live music on a stage within one of the arches of the viaduct.

Braunstone Gate bridge, looking southeast.
Update May 2002 - De Montfort University has proposed building a swimming pool next to its sports hall, which will require the demolition of the viaduct to the north of the bridge. Since there will be no support for its north end, the bridge will have to be taken down if the plans are approved.
Update July 2005: the route of the Great Central Way footpath is now diverted away from the viaduct and bridge here across the main road, and they both face demolition. The City Council which is responsible for them is concerned about the deteriorating state of the bridge and the cost of maintaining it. There has recently been a lot of debate about the future of the bridge by the council and in the local press. Although many would like to see it preserved no one could suggest where the cost of preserving it would come from. The council said that they were open to any suggestions of alternative use, but if nothing is forthcoming in the next year or so then its deteriorating condition will mean that they will have to demolish it. The preserved Great Central Railway would not like to see it destroyed and said that they could provide a home for at least the sides for possible future use if some one were to provide funding to move it to them.
Update January 2006: although it had been hoped to demolish the bridge soon, the Leicester Mercury reported that, since the footpath that had been opened over the bridge had never been legally closed, the bridge is still classed as a public highway. The required Stopping-up Order could take a year to obtain - doh!
Update 2007 - Leicester Civic Society has started a campaign with a petition to save the Bowstring Bridge in Braunstone Gate. Go to the Links page for further details.

The De Montfort University sports hall is on the left. The proposed swimming pool would be built on the right.

Looking south under the Braunstone Gate bridge. On the left the new office developments on the goods yard site stretch into the distance.

The east side of Braunstone Gate bridge, with the De Montfort University sports hall on the right.

Braunstone Gate bridge also spans the Old River Soar as well as the road, here looking north. Taken from the route of the diverted Great Central Way footpath.

Another bridge over the Old River Soar 50 yards south of Braunstone Gate bridge. Looking south near where the previous photograph was taken. The diverted Great Central Way rejoins the track bed on the far left.

The view north towards West Bridge from the end of the closed part of the viaduct next to the Pump and Tap pub (see photograph higher up this page). The viaduct continued straight ahead to the two road bridges and the river bridge at West Bridge. The tall building far right is the distinctive Pex sock factory, now converted to offices and occupied by the Land Registry.

Looking south along the now closed Great Central Way across the Braunstone Gate bridge. The viaduct walls are totally covered in graffiti.

Braunstone Gate bridge looking south.

Looking north across the bridge over the Old River Soar with Braunstone Gate bridge in the distance.

Update October 2003 - Fences now block off the path over Braunstone Gate bridge. The diverted Great Central Way rejoins the track bed just behind the photographer, but the path soon deviates to follow the bank of the Old River Soar before rejoining the track bed.