Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge

The Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge crossed the river Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal linking the towns of Runcorn and Widnes. It was completed in 1905 and was Britain's first transporter bridge and the largest of its type ever built in the world. [Thompson, p. 27.] It continued in use until 1961 when it was replaced by a through arch bridge, which is now known as the Silver Jubilee Bridge. The transporter bridge was then demolished.

History

At the beginning of the 20th century the only means of crossing the river Mersey at Runcorn Gap were by rail on the Runcorn Railway Bridge (which also had a footpath) or by using the ancient ferry (which was a rowing boat). In the 1890s the Manchester Ship Canal had been constructed and this meant that the journey by ferry had to be made in two stages, with a climb over the wall of the canal between the stages. A road bridge was clearly needed but it would have to pass high enough over the canal to allow the passage of ocean-going ships. The cost of doing this was felt to be prohibitive. [Thompson, p. 3.]

In 1899 the Widnes & Runcorn Bridge Company was established under the chairmanship of Sir John Brunner to investigate the options. Their decision was to build a transporter bridge. This would be cheaper than an orthodox type of bridge and the passage of the transporter car could be timed to allow the passage of the ships. The first transporter bridge in the world had been opened in 1893 in Bilbao, Spain. [Thompson, p. 6.] This had been followed in 1898 by transporter bridges in Rouen, France and in Bizerta, which is now in Tunisia. [Thompson, pp. 25-27.] Parliamentary approval had already been obtained for a transporter bridge over the River Usk at Newport, Monmouthshire. [Starkey, p. 213.]

An Act of Parliament was obtained in 1900 giving approval for the bridge, and the Act also allowed for the formal ending of the ferry. [Thompson, p. 5.] It was designed by John Webster and John Wood. [Thompson, pp. 4, 16.] Construction began in December 1901 and was completed in 1905. The cost was £130,000. The transporter bridge was opened (in the absence of King Edward VII who was indisposed) by Sir John Brunner on 29 May 1905.Starkey, pp. 213-214.]

During the following years there were problems both with the functioning of the bridge and with its financing. The Company could not make it pay and in 1911 it was sold to Widnes Corporation. [Thompson, p.22.] A number of improvements were made to the bridge over the years. [Thompson, pp.23-24] In its later years it made 49,000 journeys annually, carrying 280,000 cars, 145,000 commercial vehicles and over 2 million passengers. [Thompson, p. 36.] However it was inadequate for the growing needs of the region and its physical condition was deteriorating. A fixed high-level bridge was needed and this was eventually opened in 1961 after which the transporter bridge was demolished. [Starkey, pp. 221-222.]

tructure

The two towers were 180 feet high and the distance between them spanned by a girder was 1,000 feet. The weight of the cables suspending the girder was 250 tons. The underside of the girder was 82 feet above the high water level. The transporter car was 55 feet in length and 24 feet 6 inches in width and was designed to carry 4 two-horse farm waggons and 300 passengers. A shelter was provided for the passengers. The bottom of the car was 12 feet above high water level and it cleared the ship canal wall by 4.5 feet. It was suspended from a moving trolley 77 feet in length. In conditions of reasonable weather and load the journey took 2.5 minutes. The driver was sited in a cabin on top of the car from which he had an uninterrupted view in all directions. In order to provide power for motors on the trolley a power house was built within the tower on the Widnes side. Approach roads of 320 feet on the Widnes side and 470 feet on the Runcorn side were built. [Starkey, pp. 213-214, Thompson, pp. 12-15]

Today

The former approaches to the transporter bridge at the bottom of Waterloo Road, Runcorn and Mersey Road, Widnes can still be seen. On the Widnes side the power house remains and it is a Grade II* listed building. [ [http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/environment/planning/forwardplanning/listedconservationareas/listedbuildings?a=5441 Halton Borough Council:Listed buildings in Halton] Accessed 10 May 2007.]

Notes

References

*Starkey, H. F. "Old Runcorn", Halton Borough Council, 1990.
*Thompson, Dave. "Bridging the Years: The Story of Runcorn-Widnes Transporter Bridge", Dave Thompson, 2000.

Further reading

*"The Bridging of Runcorn Gap", Halton Borough Council, 1978
*Thompson, Dave. "Bridging the Mersey: A Pictorial History", European Library, Zaltbommel, 2000.

ee also

*Silver Jubilee Bridge
*Runcorn Railway Bridge