Acton Swing Bridge

2022

The control cabin and old gate. The gates were in pairs, and linked to operate together

Winch house and cables

Showing the central concrete support/caisson, and the drum with the turning cable

Showing wedging equipment. Fixed wedge on left, central gearbox in centre. This area is below the gap at the end of the bridge, making it vulnerable to corrosion due to ingress of water and road salt

Motor, gears, shaft and handwheel to operate wedges to support the ends of the bridge when open to road traffic

Disused road bridge viewed from the swing bridge

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, supported on a mass concrete pontoon chamber. 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:-

• Hayhurst Bridge
  
• Northwich Town Swing Bridge
  
• Winnington Swing Bridge
  
• Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge

The first bridge across the Weaver at this point was built in 1751. The swing bridge is a short distance downstream of the old bridge.

See Wikipedia entry.

See Also

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