The last remaining historic Stroud canal swing bridge has been removed, viagra making way for a state-of-the-art replacement.
The bridge, link at Lodgemore Lane, online was the last of the original vehicle swing bridges on the Stroudwater Navigation. They were manufactured locally by engineers TH & J Daniels Ltd at their Lightpill site in 1927.
Weighing approximately 22 tonnes, the bridge was removed in sections, allowing contractors to begin installing a brand new lifting bridge. The new bridge will allow boats to pass through, making the canal navigable for 3 miles between Stonehouse and Wallbridge.
Similar swing bridges have already been replaced at Stonehouse Ocean, Upper Mills (Stonehouse) and Chestnut Lane in Stroud. The one at Lodgemore was fixed in place after the canal closed in 1954 and the deck was concreted in the 1970s.
The new bridge has been designed locally by KGAL Engineering at Frampton on Severn. Due to land restrictions at the site, it will lift rather than swing. A pioneering feature is that it will have only one counterweight arm instead of the more traditional two.
“The design of the new bridge is very special,” said Cllr Simon Pickering, Chair of Stroud District Council’s Environment Committee. “It will look very distinctive and in years to come will be a signature structure marking the 2015 restoration”.
The council commissioned ECS Engineering of Sutton in Ashfield, Nottingham to build and install the new bridge. It should be open to traffic by Christmas and capable of lifting by the middle of January.
The £20 million first phase of the canal restoration project is led by Stroud District Council and funded mainly by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the council and the Cotswold Canals Trust.
The Cotswold Canals Trust is now leading a £15 million bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, which, if successful, will lead to the next stage – restoration of the canal between Stonehouse and Saul Junction. Stroud District Council is working closely with the Trust in support of the bid.