The Usk Bridge (Welsh: Pont-Yr-Wysg) in Brecon, Powys, Wales is the town's oldest route over the River Usk. It carries the B4601 road, formerly the A40, between Brecon and Llanfaes.[1]
The river was fordable at Brecon and the date of construction of the original bridge here is uncertain. The existing stone bridge was built in 1563[2] and replaced an earlier bridge that was washed away in the floods of 1535.[3] It was widened in 1794 by bridge builder Thomas Edwards, at a cost of £1,000[2] (equivalent to £120,000 in 2021)[4]
During the 20th century it was widened further with the addition of metal framed footpaths on either side.[2] In the 1950s it required widening to take modern road traffic and a new concrete bed, described as "functional and safe but extremely ugly", was laid on top of the original stone base.[3]
The bridge is a Grade I listed structure.[2]
51°56′51″N 3°23′38″W / 51.94756°N 3.39382°W