Northwich Town Swing Bridge
in Northwich, Cheshire
It is one of five large swing bridges taking roads across the River Weaver.
Designed by John Arthur Saner, and built in 1899 by Andrew Handyside and Co. It is one of the earliest 'floating' swing bridges in Britain, a large proportion of the weight being supported by a tank floating in a chamber (pontoon tanks floating in a caisson). It is also thought to be the first electrically-driven swing bridge in Britain.
In 1998 the bridge had to be upgraded to accommodate 40 ton vehicles, and to repair corrosion damage. A mobile crane was used to lift the superstructure, weighing 356 tonnes and the pontoon assesmbly (180 tonnes). 19 of the 76 rollers were replaced at this time.[1]
The similar Hayhurst Bridge, located 1/3 mile upstream, was completed slightly earlier.