Centenary Bridge.

This is the newest bridge on the canal, being built by AMEC in 1994 to link two major roads on each side of the canal, and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1995.

The bridge, weighing some 460 tons,  is fabricated using steel plate girders and orthotropic deck panels, and the deck structure measures some 44 metres x 24 metres x 2.5 metres deep.  The decking is supported by four towers and lifts in one piece to a height of 15 metres when open.

The erection of the bridge deck was carried out over a 3 day closure of the canal, but all of the final welding was carried out with bridge raised, so minimising the time that the canal remained closed.

Further information can be obtained from http://www.watsonsteel.co.uk/data_sheets/lift_bridge.htm