Acton Bridge Swing Bridge carries the A49 across the River Weaver, near the village of Acton Bridge in Cheshire.
First operated in 1933. It has been subject to periodic strengthening.
Sometimes erroneously described as the first floating swing bridge in Britain.
It is a steel bowstring truss balanced swing bridge, 83.5 m long, 8 m high, swivelling on a concrete base which is also a caisson for the pontoon (the buoyancy cylinder). The 'pontoon' is a riveted cylindrical steel tank attached to the underside of the bridge, contained within the cylindrical concrete caisson which supports the roller ring. The cylindrical tank is 35 ft diameter, with a convex floor. It is hidden within the water-filled chamber of the concrete caisson, whose inside diameter is 40 ft and the depth about 27 ft.
The bridge was designed by John Arthur Saner. Steelwork by John Park and Son of Northwich.
It was the last of the large swing bridges designed by Saner. His other swing bridges which carry major roads are:-
The present swing bridge is a short distance downstream of the first crossing of the River Weaver. A bridge was built to cross the Weaver at this point in 1751. A swing bridge was added to cross the new cut. The old swing bridge has been removed, while a handsome masonry skew bridge still crosses the old river course (see photo).
See Wikipedia entry.