Leamington Lift Bridge

Leamington Lift Bridge

The bridge raised to allow a boat to pass
Coordinates 55°56′29″N 3°12′40″W / 55.941309°N 3.211048°W / 55.941309; -3.211048Coordinates: 55°56′29″N 3°12′40″W / 55.941309°N 3.211048°W / 55.941309; -3.211048
Crosses Union Canal
Characteristics
Material Steel
Number of spans 1
History
Designer Armstrong Whitworth
Construction end 1906

The Leamington Lift Bridge is a lift bridge that crosses the Union Canal near its terminus at Lochrin Basin in Edinburgh.

History

The bridge was installed around 1906 where Fountainbridge crossed the canal replacing a previous bridge built in 1869.[1] When the canal was shortened in 1922 to make Lochrin Basin the terminus it was moved to its present site to replace a wooden drawbridge.[1] It fell out of use by the 1960s, but as part of the Millennium Link project to restore the Union Canal, it required to be restored at least to allow boats to pass.[2] A report published in the year 2000 had suggested fixing it permanently open, but the decision was taken to restore it to full working order.[3]

The restoration involved removing the deck and the top member of the bridge to access the inner workings.[4] It opened for the first time on 16 May 2002, followed by an official opening ceremony on 24 May.[4]

Design

The permanent footbridge

The bridge is constructed from a wooden deck that can be raised between two gantries to give a clearance of 9 feet (2.7 m) below.[2] The bridge crosses between Gilmore Park and Leamington Road, but is not open to cars.[5] A permanent lattice girder footbridge allows pedestrians to cross when the deck is raised.[2]

It is formed from riveted steel, with more substantial columns on the southern side where the motors and counterbalances are housed.[2][4]

The bridge can be opened by canal users after appropriate training from Scottish Canals.[6] It is only the width of single canal boat.

References

  1. 1 2 "Edinburgh, Union Canal, Fountainbridge Lifting Bridge". canmore.rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Edinburgh, Gilmore Park, Union Canal Lifting Bridge". canmore.rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Fleming, George (2000). The Millennium Link: The Rehabilitation of the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals. Thomas Telford. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-7277-2945-3.
  4. 1 2 3 "Leamington Lift Bridge". gentles.info. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Google (30 January 2015). "Leamington Lift Bridge" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "Customers take control of Leamington lift bridge!". Scottish Canals. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
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