The Trafford Road Swing Bridge





The bridge which crosses the Ship Canal on Trafford Road was built by John Butler & Co. It is the largest and widest of the swing bridges crossing the canal. It was designed to carry road traffic over the canal but was able to swing to allow ships to enter and leave the Pamona Docks.

In the image below you can see the bridge in 1953, when the docks were still operating.  To the left of the road bridge you can see the railway swing bridge.



As the volume of traffic using the road over the bridge increased it became necessary to widen Trafford Road and improve the major junction with Chester Road.  Following the closure of the docks there was no longer any need for the bridge to swing so it was fixed in place.  Then an another bridge was added along its eastern side.




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