Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge

The Transporter Bridge Runcorn (English: Widnes - Runcorn Transporter Bridge or Runcorn Widnes - Transporter Bridge ) crossed the Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal, linking the towns of Runcorn and Widnes. It was completed in 1905 and was the first transporter bridge in the United Kingdom and the largest ever of its kind in the world. It remained in operation until 1961 and was then replaced by an arch bridge, which is now called the Silver Jubilee Bridge. Then the transporter bridge was demolished.

History

At the beginning of the 20th century, the only ways to cross the Mersey at Runcorn Gap was a railway bridge (which also had a footpath ) and the ancient ferry (which was a rowing boat). In the 1890s, the Manchester Ship Canal was built. This meant that the crossing was back down to the ferry in two stages, interrupted by a climb over the wall between the canal and river. Obviously, a road bridge was needed, but it should have the channel cross high enough for the passage of ocean-going ships. The cost of this seemed to be prohibitive.

In 1899 the Runcorn Widnes & Bridge Company was established to investigate the possibilities. They opted for a transporter bridge. This would be cheaper than an ordinary bridge, and the crossing of the gondola could be controlled timed so that the ships were not hindered. The first transporter bridge in the world was opened in Bilbao ( Spain) in 1893. In this the transporter bridges followed in Rouen ( France) and Bizerte (Tunisia). In addition, there was already a parliamentary decision to build the Transporter Bridge in Newport on the Usk, which was however not completed until 1906.

The Runcorn Transporter Bridge in 1900 was approved by Parliament; the same decision allowed the adjustment of the ferry. Construction began in December 1901 and was completed in 1905. The costs amounted to £ 130,000 (about £ 10 million by 2010 prices ). The Transporter Bridge was opened in the absence of Edward VII, who was indisposed, by Sir John Brunner on May 29, 1905.

During the following years there were problems both in the operation of the Transporter Bridge as well as its funding. The company never achieved a profit and sold the Transporter Bridge in 1911 the Widnes Corporation. Over time is made ​​a number of improvements. During the last years 49,000 crossings were carried out per year and carries 280,000 cars, 145,000 vans and over 2 million passengers. Nevertheless, the Transporter Bridge proved increasingly inadequate for the growing transport needs of the region, and its technical condition worsened. Obviously there was a need for a fixed bridge that was eventually built and opened in 1961. Then the transporter bridge was demolished.

Description

The pylons were 55 feet high and spanned by the bridge girder distance between them was 305 m. The weight of the cable, in which the bridge girders was suspended, was 250 t. The underside of the bridge girder was located 25 m above the highest water level. The gondola was 16.7 m long and 7.5 m wide. It could carry four two-horse wagons or 300 people. There was a protective roof for the passengers. The lower edge of the cable was 3.7 m above the highest water level and 1.4 m on the wall of the channel. She hung under a moving car, which was driven by electric motors and was 23.5 m long. Under ordinary circumstances, what weather and loading was concerned, took the crossing 2.5 minutes. The driver sat in a booth above the gondola, from where he had a good view in all directions. The energy for the traction motors supplied by an engine house on the side of Widnes.

Today

The former approach ramps to the Transporter Bridge at the end of Waterloo Road in Runcorn (143 m long) and the Mersey Road in Widnes (97 m long) are still visible today. The engine house has been preserved and is available as a Grade II * building under monument protection.