Silk Road Bridge - Macclesfield, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 16.825 W 002° 06.936
30U E 558966 N 5903829
This wooden tied arch bridge carries the Middlewood Way, a rails to trails route, over the Silk Road (A523)
Waymark Code: WM10YXF
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/14/2019
Views: 2
"In 1863, the towns of Marple, Bollington and Macclesfield
were facing economic depression. Local dignitaries and
especially the cotton mill owners of Bollington, hoped a new
railway would improve their fortunes. A railway scheme was
presented to parliament, and in 1869 the Macclesfield,
Bollington and Marple Railway opened.
The railway carried cotton, silk, coal and passengers, however
it always struggled to make a profit. The line later became part
of British Rail but was eventually closed as part of the Beeching
cuts in 1970. In 1985 the disused railway was redeveloped for
recreation as the Middlewood Way.
The scenic 10 mile / 16 km long Middlewood Way provides lots of
opportunities for walking, cycling and horse riding. The Middlewood Way was constructed on top of a disused railway line, and officially opened in 1985."
link
When the railway line was converted to the 'rails to trails' route, the Macclesfield end of the rout had been built on with a new bypass and the line of the route had to be modified to reach Macclesfield Station. This bridge had to be constructed to carry the route over the Silk Road, named after one of Macclesfield's former major industries.