A new era for Preston’s Tram Bridge as lift gets underway

Preston is set to witness a landmark moment in its heritage as the Tram Bridge is lifted into place, following the demolition of the old structure and the reimagining of this historic crossing.

In preparation for this milestone, Eric Wright Civil Engineering’s team have been preparing on site. This has included assembling the 75-metre-high crane with a jib length of 114 metres, a challenging task given the logistical constraints of the construction site on the south side of the River Ribble, and all four bridge sections have now arrived from Harrisons Engineering.

On arrival, the bridge sections were meticulously prepared ahead of the lift, including the installation of the bridge surface, which has been selected to complement the aesthetics of the bridge and its surrounding environment.

Over the coming days, the final 3 sections of the 150 tonnes of bridge sections will be carefully positioned into place. This complex operation marks a significant step in reconnecting the north and south side of the River Ribble.

The first section of the bridge, the land-based part of the bridge, was manoeuvred into place on Sunday 30 November. It was witnessed by a number of residents who were keen to see this historic and rare piece of engineering.

The replacement Tram Bridge has been delivered by Preston City Council using part of its £20 million grant awarded by the UK Government, with an additional £1 million from Lancashire County Council.

Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building at Preston City Council, said: "It’s been fantastic to see the bridge finally being put into place, a new pathway that people will enjoy for decades to come.

‘’We’re incredibly proud at Preston City Council to have delivered this key project, which is so important for many reasons, reconnecting communities across the River Ribble and restoring a vital piece of Preston’s heritage."

County Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, Lancashire County Council, said: “This is a landmark moment for the Tram Bridge project. Lancashire County Council is proud to support Preston City Council in driving this work forward, contributing £1m and providing technical design and supervision expertise to ensure the successful replacement of this historic crossing.”

Gavin Hulme, Managing Director at Eric Wright Civil Engineering said: “We are really pleased to have reached this major milestone as part of this significant project for our valued client, Preston City Council.

‘’It’s a proud moment to be in a position where we have the abutments and in river piers complete, and all sections of the bridge now on site, ready for lifting into place. The new Tram Bridge will play a vital role within the community for decades to come, and we are excited to be a part of this journey.”

Following the completion of the lift, the crane will be de-rigged and final positioning works will take place to secure the bridge into place. The bridge will remain closed until Spring 2026 whilst surrounding works are complete including the resurfacing of the tram ridge road.