Demolition of Tram Bridge set to begin

The much-anticipated demolition of Preston's iconic Tram Bridge is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, 20 August 2024.

This significant milestone marks the beginning of a new era for the bridge, which has long been a key transport link between Preston and South Ribble.

The replacement of the Tram Bridge, announced in Spring 2024, is being delivered by Preston City Council using part of its £20million grant awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), with an additional £1million from Lancashire County Council.

The Demolition of the Tram Bridge will take a number of weeks, divided into carefully managed phases by principal contractor Eric Wright Civil Engineering Ltd and the demolition sub-contractor and Preston based, Pete Marquis Ltd.

The method of the demolition, agreed with the Marine Management organisation and the Environment Agency, will involve creating an access track into the river and using a large excavator to cut the bridge into sections before lifting out and removing from site.

The demolition is expected to be completed by mid-September.

In partnership with the Environment Agency and local ecologists, the project team has taken significant measures to minimise the environmental impact of the demolition.

The timing of the demolition is particularly crucial to avoid impacts to smelt and coarse fish spawning in the River Ribble. This small window has been carefully selected to ensure that the project timeline remains on track, whilst protecting local wildlife.

Preston City Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building said:

"This is a significant moment for the project which I'm sure will attract interest from the public.

Given the rich history of the bridge, the demolition will bring mixed emotions to local residents. This is an important step in delivering a new bridge that will serve the community for decades to come and restore this key transport link for people between Preston and South Ribble."

Lancashire County Council is project managing and supporting the project working closely with Eric Wright Civil Engineering on the design and construction of the bridge.

County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth added:

"Providing good sustainable transport links that allow people to stay healthy by enjoying the outdoors is a key aspect of our levelling up ambitions.

"The new bridge will restore an important active travel route between South Ribble and Preston city centre for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

 

"That's why we have contributed £1m to this project, which will benefit Lancashire residents for generations to come."

The Tram Bridge will be replaced with a new bridge that supports sustainability and  minimises any environmental impacts of the new structure, boasting a projected life span of 120 years.

The design, created by DYSE Structural Engineers and visualised by local architect Studio John Bridge, was unveiled earlier this year and reflects both the needs of the local community and the picturesque setting of the bridge.

The Tram bridge is expected to open to the public in early 2026.

Free Drop-In Exhibition

A public exhibition at the Pavilion Café in Avenham Park traces the history of the Tram Bridge, from its role during World War II to sections of the bridge dating back to the 1800s, which are still standing.

Featuring CGI imagery of the new bridge, the exhibition aims to engage and inform the public about its design features.

The temporary exhibition is now open to the public, free of charge, at the Pavilion Café, with operating hours from Sunday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, and Saturday, 9:30am to 5pm.

Additional Information

The Tram Bridge project is part of the Active Preston Programme, that sets to deliver a more healthy, liveable and sustainably connected city.

Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone. 

Image: Drone shot of Tram Bridge, credit Mike Ashmore.