Post-war redevelopment

The developments over even the last 15 years have been very noticeable. In my earlier work roles I too have been in of positions of - just dont fall off! Not a thrill seeker to test if "will thing thing break of not" though. Even checking out the steel fixers working in America in the 70's & 80's is insane to me, apparently the fatal injuries were near zero! I shall have a look for what you have mentioned.

I recall during my brief vac job (summer 1967) as crane driver's mate at British Celanese, we had to dismantle some plant supported by a steel framework at least as tall as the skeleton of the Locarno/Library stairwell. The floors at each stage, some of which had been removed to gain access, were made from galvanised steel grids resting on the girders. I remember having to walk along the tops of girders with perhaps a 50 foot drop on either side. Normally petrified of heights, in the context of the working environment I somehow accomplished this without thinking about it!

For me, the ring road should have been exactly that not tearing through, and above, so many memorable places and buildings. A ring road should circle a city not through it.

I do agree that our Ring Road tore through far too many fine buildings. It was almost as if the planners had a vendetta against the wonderful Victorian architecture of James Murray, which appeared to suffer disproportionately. Hindsight is obviously a wonderful thing, but I think the circuit would have been far easier to use if built a couple of hundred yards further out, which would have allowed longer weaving zones at the junctions, making coming on & off less stressful.