The Transporter Bridge

The lack of a road bridge  at Runcorn had always been a problem even before the canal was built, the original crossing of the Mersey being by ferry at this point.  The problem was finally solved on 1905 when a transporter bridge was constructed.

Massive towers on each bank supported a huge, high level,  girder built structure upon which ran a trolley, operated by electric motors.  Below this trolley, and supported by cables, hung a platform which was used for carrying pedestrians, carts and vehicles across the river and canal.

The transporter provided an excellent solution but by the 1950's traffic had grown to such an extent that it was considered to be inadequate and a road bridge was proposed to replace it. Once the road bridge was opened in 1961 the old transporter bridge was dismantled.

It stood just upstream of the present road bridge and the ticket office and the approach abutments can still be seen.