Acton swing bridge

The Acton swing bridge is a swing bridge spanning the River Weaver in the village of Acton Bridge in north Cheshire, England. First operated in 1933, it carries the A49 trunk road.

Acton swing bridge
Coordinates53.279882°N 2.600702°W / 53.279882; -2.600702
CarriesRoad traffic
CrossesRiver Weaver
LocaleCheshire, England
Characteristics
DesignSwing truss bridge
MaterialSteel
Total length83.5 metres (274 ft)
History
Constructed byJohn Arthur Saner (design)
Opened10 August 1933 (1933-08-10)

History

The bridge is 83.5 m long and 8 m high bowstring truss balanced swing bridge, based on an 1893 design by John Arthur Saner.[1][2] It has two slightly skew spans of 25 m each, with the twin riveted steel trusses supported on a mass concrete pontoon chamber.[2]

It was built in an open position between 1931 and 1933 at a cost of £52,000,[2] shutting for the first time on 10 August 1933.[3] The current bridge replaced an older stone bridge which had been able to carry only one line of traffic with an axle weight limit of 8 tons (the first bridge across the Weaver at this point was built in 1751).[3] The current bridge is approximately 100 m north (downstream) of the old bridge's abutments, visible on the river banks from the Leigh Arms car park.[4]

It has been subject to periodic strengthening (e.g. in 1987)[1] and repair (e.g. in 2015).[5] Today the structure of the bridge is maintained by the Canal & River Trust; Cheshire West and Chester Council is responsible for maintaining the A49 road which it carries.[5]

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See also

References
  1. "Acton Swing Bridge". Bridge Design and Assessment. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  2. "Merseyside Bridges: 9. Acton Swing Bridge". The Happy Pontist. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  3. "23-Acton Bridge - Weaver Navigation". Movable Bridges in the British Isles. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  4. "Acton Swing Bridge". Heritage Locations. Transport Trust. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  5. "Essential repair work to Acton Swing Bridge". Canal River Trust. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
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