The replacement bridge is set to open in early 2026. Credit: distillated/Flickr(Creative Commons).

Preston City Council in the UK has announced the commencement of dismantling works on the Tram Bridge project, which is part of the Active Preston Programme.  

This event initiates the transition for the bridge, which has served as a pivotal connection between Preston and South Ribble.  

The project to replace the Tram Bridge was revealed in early 2024. It is funded through a £20m ($25.93m) grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Lancashire County Council has contributed an additional £1m to the development.  

The dismantling process, to be managed by principal contractor Eric Wright Civil Engineering and subcontractor Pete Marquis, will span several weeks and proceed in controlled stages.  

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The demolition technique, sanctioned by the Marine Management Organisation and the UK Environment Agency (EA), entails constructing a temporary river access and segmenting the bridge with an excavator for removal.  

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Completion of the demolition is anticipated by mid-September.  

Environmental considerations are central to the project, with measures in place to mitigate ecological disruption in consultation with the EA and local ecologists.  

The project’s timing aligns with ecological cycles to protect smelt and coarse fish during their spawning period in the River Ribble.  

Lancashire County Council is overseeing the project, collaborating with Eric Wright Civil Engineering on the new bridge’s design and construction aspects.  

The forthcoming bridge aims for sustainability and reduced environmental impact, with an estimated 120-year lifespan.  

Designs by DYSE Structural Engineers and visualisations by Studio John Bridge were presented earlier in the year, incorporating community needs and the scenic locale.  

The new Tram Bridge is set to open in early 2026.