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Acton swing bridge

Coordinates: 53°16′48″N 2°36′03″W / 53.279882°N 2.600702°W / 53.279882; -2.600702
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Acton swing bridge
Acton swing bridge
Coordinates53°16′48″N 2°36′03″W / 53.279882°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)
Location
Map

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.

History

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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]


Public Works Facilities Scheme (Acton Swing Bridge) Confirmation Act 1931
Act of Parliament
Citation21 & 22 Geo. 5. c. xxiii
Dates
Royal assent11 June 1931
Text of statute as originally enacted

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]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Acton Swing Bridge". Bridge Design and Assessment. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Merseyside Bridges: 9. Acton Swing Bridge". The Happy Pontist. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  3. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Essential repair work to Acton Swing Bridge". Canal River Trust. Retrieved 30 August 2016.