page_title: Runcorn Railway Bridge
section_title: Structure
hierarchical_section_title: Runcorn Railway Bridge / Structure
context_page_description: The Runcorn Railway Bridge, Ethelfleda Bridge or Britannia Bridge crosses the River Mersey at Runcorn Gap between Runcorn and Widnes in Cheshire, England. It is alongside the Silver Jubilee Bridge. The bridge is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* Listed building.
  In 1861, Parliamentary approval for a railway crossing the Mersey was obtained by the London and North Western Railway. The design for a bridge and viaducts was produced by William Baker, the company's chief engineer. In 1863, preparatory work for the bridge and approach viaducts commenced. The bridge was completed in 1868 and was opened for traffic on 10 October. The first goods traffic crossed the bridge on 1 February 1869 and the first passenger train on 1 April.
  The bridge has received few alterations. In 1965, the pedestrian footway alongside the railway was closed to the public but retained for maintenance access. The bridge is used by rail traffic on the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Main Line. The lines are electrified and 25 kV AC overhead lines installed.
context_section_description: The bridge carries a double-tracked railway across the River Mersey; it has been recognised as a Grade II* listed structure. The tracks are laid on a metal deck supported by top and bottom box-girder chords, carried on 8.5 metre-high trusses. The bridge superseded a centuries-old ferry and a pedestrian footbridge set alongside the main girders was provided on its eastern side. On completion, the bridge was the longest of its type. An engraved stone plaque on the northerly portal records that the main contractor was Brassey & Ogilvie and the ironworks were manufactured by Cochrane Grove & Co. Large portions of the original ironworks have been restored or replaced with new castings.
  As built, the bridge consisted of three wrought iron spans of 305 feet (93 m), each located on top of two sandstone abutments with foundations at a depth of about 45 feet (14 m) below water level. The trusses support the metal bridge deck, which carries the railway lines. The erection of the lattice girder spans was unusual, because instead of floating the finished sections down the river and lifting them into position, each was built up piece by piece in situ. There are six lattice girders, two for each span. Each girder contains around 700 tons of iron and is fastened by 48,115 rivets. During the first half of the 20th century, some of the wrought iron girders were replaced by steel counterparts.
  The bridge has a clearance of 75 feet (23 m) above the high-water mark allowing sailing ships to pass beneath.  The height was stipulated by the Admiralty which had insisted on a clearance of at least 75 feet. The approaches to the bridge on both sides accommodated its considerable height and a gradient of 1 in 114 was needed to obtain the necessary clearance beneath the central spans. On the north side of the river, the bridge is approached by a 49-arch viaduct and a short embankment followed by 16 arches. From the south, it is approached by a 33-arch viaduct. The viaduct piers, bridge abutments and the bridge's central piers are of sandstone and the viaduct arches are of brick.
  Maintenance of the bridge poses challenges; as it is exposed to high winds, the prevailing conditions must always be considered. The limited space, particularly on the narrow walkway, makes access difficult, sometimes requiring suspended scaffolding and climbing ropes. More elaborate methods of moving supplies and equipment have included bespoke trolleys and lifting frames and helicopters. Maintenance staff wear harnesses and are tied onto elements of the bridge and, on occasion, rescue boats have been on standby in case personnel fall from the bridge.
  From the mid-2010s, extensive repairs and modifications have been carried out. The cantilevered walkway's cast iron parapets were removed and restored, its cantilevered beams and bottom chords were grit-blasted, the end plates were removed and replaced for greater strength. It was painted with two-pack epoxy paint, with a polyurethane top coat coloured to match the rest of the structure. Work was carried on bridge's drains and waterproofing, especially the castellated turrets and the timber fenders that protect the piers from damage. Work on the bridge requires authorisation from Halton Borough Council's planning authority and the Marine Management Organisation because of the potential impact on shipping.
caption: Ground view between the Runcorn Railway Bridge and the Silver Jubilee Bridge, 2004
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