Stone Arch Bridge 42 on Rochdale Canal – Summit, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 39.946 W 002° 04.888
30U E 560689 N 5946727
The Rochdale canal is 32 miles long and connects Manchester on the west side of the Pennine Hills and Sowerby Bridge on the east side.
Waymark Code: WMD5D6
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/21/2011
Views: 3
The Canal History
The Rochdale Canal was completed in 1804 and is one of three canals that cross the Pennine hills. This is the only one that doesn’t use tunnels. In addition it was a broad canal with bridges and locks that allowed boats of 14 feet width to pass through.
Competition from railways and roads subsequently led to a decline in goods being carried and by 1937 the only section left in operation was at the Manchester end of the canal.
In 1965 there was talk of abandoning the canal but by this time leisure boating had become very popular in the UK and there was a campaign to keep it open. Work was started to repair the canal and the whole length finally reopened in September 2007. As well as leisure boats, the canal attracts lots of walkers and cyclists along the tow path.
Details of this bridge
This stone arch bridge 42 is next to the western summit lock of the canal, at the village also called Summit. This makes it the highest bridge on the canal at 190 metres above sea level.
The road over the bridge connects the A6033 with the Lower Chelburn Reservoir. The reservoir is one of the ones that supply water to the canal.
These old bridges on the canal are usually next to the locks because that is where the canal is at its narrowest. In this case even the tow path does not go under the bridge making it narrower still.
The bridge carries vehicular traffic but has a weight restriction of 3 tons.
Physical Location (city, county, etc.): The village of Summit
Road, Highway, Street, etc.: Unnamed Road
Water or other terrain spanned: The Rochdale Canal
Construction Date: 1/1/1804
Architect/Builder: Not listed
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