Big Lock footbridge reopens after £330k restoration

Trent and Mersey Canal Trust has invested £330,000 to repair the Grade II listed Big Lock footbridge over the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Delighted onlookers cheered on engineers from the waterways and wellbeing charity as they craned the Big Lock footbridge back into position after a year-long restoration of the heritage landmark.

Gently does it as the restored Big Lock footbridge is craned back into position

Cllr Mike Hunter, chairman of Middlewich Town Council cut a ceremonial ribbon to reopen the Big Lock footbridge to pedestrians on Friday.

He said: “Thank you to the staff and volunteers of the Canal and River Trust for all the work they do throughout the year and especially for this restoration.

"The canal plays a very important part in our town both historically and financially.

"The trust has ensured that a key part of our town’s history will continue well into the future – and they deserve a great deal of credit for this in these times of financial hardship.”

The original footbridge, supported by 1891 bullhead railway rails, had to be closed ahead of repairs just under two years ago, with a temporary pedestrian crossing installed alongside it.

Cllr Mike Hunter joins staff and volunteers from the Canal and River Trust to celebrate the reopening of the Big Lock footbridge

In June last year, the trust created a special cradle to lift the old bridge safely onto a low loader and transport it to a specialist firm for grit blasting, followed by a sensitive and detailed restoration of the elegant Victorian structure.

Tania Snelgrove, project manager with the Canal and River Trust, said: “It was fantastic to see so many local residents out to watch the nail-biting moment when we craned the newly-restored bridge back into position. It was a real boost to the hardworking team to receive a spontaneous round of applause.

 

“The old bridge was badly corroded, and our engineers rose to the challenge of providing a sympathetic restoration which could carry modern loadings. The original steel structure has largely been retained so the weathering is clearly visible, and unique historical features, which were too badly rusted, have been replicated.

“The structural elements are all painted black, as in the original colour scheme, including new ‘u’ frames which strengthen the bridge.

"The new mesh on the parapets is the same woven mesh used at the Eden Project and is so light that it appears to vanish when viewed from a distance – allowing the structure to appear very much as it did over 100 years ago.”

 

The complex craning operation was followed by several days of finishing works to align footpaths and other surrounding infrastructure and then trust volunteers painted the ramp handrails before a formal opening ceremony on Friday.

For more information about volunteering or donating to the trust visit canalrivertrust.org.uk.