Town Bridge - Nothwich, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 15.625 W 002° 30.949
30U E 532297 N 5901350
This electrically operated swing bridge carries Watling Street (A559) over the River Weaver Navigation.
Waymark Code: WMVX30
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 06/06/2017
Views: 1
Completion of the River Weaver Navigation in 1734 provided a navigable route for transporting salt from Winsford, through Northwich, to Frodsham, where the Weaver joins the River Mersey.
This bridge is one of two similar bridges over the navigation in Northwich. This one and its associated control cabin is a Grade II listed building. "Swing bridge, 1899, steel, of one pivoted span with asymmetrical bowstring lattice girders; pivot on west bank of river. Barrier with spiked railing on railway track at west end of bridge; pair of steel gates at east end on ornate cast iron posts. A cast iron plaque at west end of each girder is inscribed, in raised capitals, ERECTED BY THE WEAVER NAVIGATION TRUSTEES: 1899; ENGINEER J.A.SANER M.INST.C.E.: CONTRACTOR FOR METALWORK A.HANDYSIDE & COMPANY LTD. DERBY AND LONDON. Timber framed weatherboarded control cabin north of bridge on west bank has wide-eaved hipped roof with ornate finials; small-pane casements form a continuous band to river side and ends of cabin; fixed steel ladder, with guardrail, to river bank. This and Hayhurst Bridge (q.v.) are believed to be the earliest electrically powered swing bridges in Britain."
link
As well as the original plaque there is a much later one erected to commemorate the engineering significance of the bridge.
THE INSTITUTION OF
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
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THE INSTITUTION OF
CIVIL ENGINEERS
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THE BRANCHES OF THE INSTITUTIONS IN THE NORTH
WEST TOGETHER WITH BRITISH WATERWAYS
COMMEMORATE COLONEL Sander's INNOVATIVE
DESIGN OF 1899
THE FIRST ROAD SWING BRIDGE ON
FLOATING PONTOONS AND THE FIRST
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWING BRIDGE
IN BRITAIN SEPTEMBER 1989
As Northwich expanded over time this bridge and Hayhurst bridge to the south formed a bottleneck to modern road traffic. The road system has been modified with a clockwise gyratory system with each bridge taking one way traffic in two lanes.