Completion of Old Trafford Road Bridge

The bridge was designed by A M Fowler, the late borough engineer, and the work was executed under the superintendence of his successor, Arthur Jacob.  Works in connection with the building of the Manchester Ship Canal, including the alteration of the course of the river rendered the bridge obsolete, although parts may survive under the approach to the Trafford Road Swing Bridge.

NEW BRIDGE OVER THE IRWELL AT OLD TRAFFORD – We observe that work has already been begun of erecting a new bridge over the river Irwell at Throstle Nest, Old Trafford, which is to afford an entirely new means of communication between Old Trafford and Salford. The bridge, which is being constructed from designs by Mr A M Fowler, the borough engineer of Salford, will be an ornamental wrought iron structure, but suited for the heaviest traffic, and will cross the river by a single span of 140 feet – the longest span, we believe, of any bridge over the Irwell. It is upon what is commonly known as the bowstring principle, and will rest upon foundations of solid masonry, the materials for which have been obtained from the Runcorn red sandstone quarries. Much progress has been made in the work of building the foundations. This portion of the undertaking, which includes the excavating, is being executed by Mr Abraham Pilling of Bolton, whose tender amounted to about £13,140; and we may state that tenders will be accepted for the ironwork in the course of a few weeks. The new bridge, with collateral works, will, when completed, form a public improvement of some importance. It will afford means of direct communication between the whole of the western portion of Salford and Pendleton and Old Trafford, and especially will it be advantageous to travellers by the Cheshire Lines Committee and the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Company’s railways. The distance from South Cross Lane at its junction with Eccles New Road to that portion of the turnpike road opposite the Blind Asylum, Old Trafford, (to which point the road of the new bridge will lead) is a little over a mile, whereas by the present route it is much more than double that distance. The new bridge will be approached on the Salford side by a fine roadway, 60 feet wide, leading from Broadway, south Cross Lane. The Stretford Local Board and the Cheshire Lines Committee severally contribute, though in comparatively small proportion, towards the cost of this large undertaking. [Manchester Guardian 18 November 1876 page 8]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 18 November 1876 page 8
Reference    Manchester Guardian 2 December 1876 page 5 – contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 8 November 1878 page 8
Reference    Building News 15 November 1878 page 520
Reference    Building News 22 November 1878 p544