Tram Bridge Preston is in place over River Ribble

Early in December, the ‘Old’ Tram Bridge was installed in Preston over the River Ribble and for everyone watching, either on the bridge itself or on the river bank, it was a spectacle to behold.

Having been built in 1802, the original Tram Bridge was opened in 1804 to carry the packhorse trams between the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Over the years, it has had its fair share of updates and renovations before flood damage meant that it was rebuilt with concrete trestle supports that still exist today. In the 1960s, it was closed for safety reasons and renovations began again to restore it. From the 1980s onwards, multiple inspections found defects and anomalies until it was finally closed in 2019.

In 2022, Preston City Council successfully bid for a Levelling Up fund and the process of rebuilding the bridge began.

With the new Tram Bridge in place, this will create a safe crossing for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders to get between Preston and South Ribble. After months of planning, designs and preparation, working alongside Eric Wright and Harrisons Engineering, the bridge was finally ready to be put in place. The tram bridge is in four sections, weighing 150 tonnes in total and had to be carefully craned in place by a 75-metre crane.

Ed Dablin and Barry Davies went along to join the contractors, members of the public and council leaders to see this historic moment happen. It has been a major operation and one that DYSE has been very pleased to be a part of.

“It’s been fantastic to see the bridge finally being put in 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.”

Coun Valerie Wise, cabinet member for community wealth building at Preston City Council.

The new bridge will be go through final installation and checks while the surrounding area has work completed, including resurfacing of the tram ridge road and is due to reopen to the public in Spring 2026.

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