Q 01/05

Why are the Humber Bridge's two towers 36 mm farther apart at the top than at the base?

A) Deliberate lean against wind

B) The Earth's curvature

C) Clay foundations settling

D) Pull of the main cables

Answer · why

B) The Earth's curvature

The Earth's curvature means two truly vertical towers standing 1,410 metres apart cannot be parallel. Each one points straight up from its own spot on...

Q 02/05

Who officially opened the Humber Bridge in July 1981, twelve days before a famous royal wedding?

A) Margaret Thatcher

B) The Duke of Edinburgh

C) Queen Elizabeth II

D) Prince Charles

Answer · why

C) Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II opened the bridge on 17 July 1981, about three weeks after traffic first crossed. Her son Charles married Lady Diana Spencer on 29 ...

Q 03/05

Which country built the bridge that took the world's-longest-span record from the Humber Bridge in 1998?

A) Japan

B) Denmark

C) China

D) Turkey

Answer · why

A) Japan

Japan opened the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge near Kobe in April 1998 with a central span of 1,991 metres. That is more than half a kilometre longer than the ...

Q 04/05

What flew over the Humber Bridge's 1981 royal opening midway through the Archbishop of York's prayer?

A) A Vulcan bomber

B) A Concorde jet

C) A Spitfire flight

D) The Red Arrows

Answer · why

D) The Red Arrows

The Red Arrows arrived on schedule, but the Archbishop had added an extra verse to his prayer of dedication. The jets roared overhead in the middle of...

Q 05/05

Which TV motoring show raced a man wading across the Humber against a car banned from the Humber Bridge?

A) Fifth Gear

B) Top Gear

C) The Grand Tour

D) Wheeler Dealers

Answer · why

B) Top Gear

Top Gear pitted Hull man Graham Boanas, on foot through the estuary, against James May driving the long way round in an Alfa Romeo. Boanas won.