Gerald Road Footbridge, Pendleton-Broughton
The Broughton Suspension Bridge of 1826 (qv) was eventually demolished and replaced by a Pratt Truss footbridge, designed by the Borough Engineer at a cost of about £2,300, which was formally opened on 2 April 1924. However, the over-wide abutments and a stone post on the Broughton side are part of the original structure.
NEW IRWELL BRIDGE - The formal opening yesterday of a new footbridge over the Irwell at Gerald Road, connecting Broughton and Pendleton, was the culmination of an agitation begun 20 years ago for better means of communication between the two districts. There are now 19 bridges across the Irwell in its winding course through the borough, and the Gerald Road structure supersedes the suspension bridge that was erected about 90 years ago. For many years, foot passengers and vehicles crossing this old bridge had to pay toll, but it became unremunerative when the Wallness and Cromwell bridges were opened as free highways. In 1898 the suspension bridge was offered to the Corporation but declined owing to the cost of repairs. Under its Act of 1920 the Corporation obtained powers to construct the new footbridge but in consequence of the restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Health, the work was not commenced until July 1923. … When the Borough Engineer (Colonel Martin) was preparing the plans, he found that the abutments of the old bridge were quite fit to receive the new superstructure and resulting correspondence led to Mr G P FitzGerald giving the Corporation permission to use them. He also granted any other easements necessary without monetary consideration. The new bridge, designed by the Borough Engineer, is of the Platt Truss type. It has a span between the abutments of 142 feet 9 inches, and the width is 8 feet between the railings. The total weight of steelwork in the bridge is 57 tons, and of the whole superstructure 91 tons. Its cost is about £2,300. [Manchester Guardian. 3 April 1924. page 11]
Reference Manchester Guardian. 3 April 1924. p. 11.
