Micklethwaite swing bridge 199 Leeds & Liverpool

[frangar]

There seems to be a lot of trouble with this bridge for the last week or more.

 

Had an email to say it was fixed then late last night had this one:

 

Notice Alert

 

Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Starts At: Bridge 199, Micklethwaite Swing Bridge

Ends At: Bridge 199, Micklethwaite Swing Bridge

 

Wednesday 20 August 2014 until further notice

 

Type: Navigation Closure

Reason: Structure failure

 

Update on 24/08/2014:

 

Due to a mechanical fault, Micklethwaite Swing Bridge (no. 199) will be closed until further notice.

 

An update will be issued on Tuesday 26 August 2014.

 

Hope it gets sorted finally this time!

 

Cheers

 

Gareth

[MikeV]

At the beginning of July it was broken when we travelled to and from Saltaire. On the way to Saltaire we arrived at the back of the queue just as it was fixed, but there were about 5 boats waiting. On the way back it was again broken, but we had just come up the Five Rise late in the late afternoon and so were happy to moor for the night, however they did fix it early in the evening and let the waiting boats through. Or at least we thought they'd fixed it, but the next morning it wouldn't work again and we didn't get through it until nearly lunchtime, again accumulating a queue of boats in both directions

 

As I understand it, as part of the development of 400+ houses north of the canal they will build a fixed bridge so C&RT are trying not to spend any money on it even though it's really EOL.

[Pluto]

At the beginning of July it was broken when we travelled to and from Saltaire. On the way to Saltaire we arrived at the back of the queue just as it was fixed, but there were about 5 boats waiting. On the way back it was again broken, but we had just come up the Five Rise late in the late afternoon and so were happy to moor for the night, however they did fix it early in the evening and let the waiting boats through. Or at least we thought they'd fixed it, but the next morning it wouldn't work again and we didn't get through it until nearly lunchtime, again accumulating a queue of boats in both directions

 

As I understand it, as part of the development of 400+ houses north of the canal they will build a fixed bridge so C&RT are trying not to spend any money on it even though it's really EOL.

Not a fixed bridge, but a wider swing bridge to provide access to the new 400 house estate. The scheme was thrown out originally, but allowed when the developers reapplied a year later. Expect problems when the houses are built as road traffic will be heavy. The developers didn't seem to have much of an idea about swing bridges, and so there could be more stoppages as well.

[MartinC]

Not a fixed bridge, but a wider swing bridge to provide access to the new 400 house estate. The scheme was thrown out originally, but allowed when the developers reapplied a year later. Expect problems when the houses are built as road traffic will be heavy. The developers didn't seem to have much of an idea about swing bridges, and so there could be more stoppages as well.

Problems will be before the houses are built as the builders will be getting deliveries from 38 tonne vehicles which, no doubt, will try to use the swing bridge. Neither of the developers (Redrow and Bellway) are listed as members of the Considerate Contractors Scheme, which says something.From the detailed plans of the replacement bridge there does not appear to be any provision for offside mooring and access to control box for singlehanders

 

Some years ago there was a development on the outskirts of Stoke and the developers put a man on the controls of the swing bridge on the Caldon, which adjoined the site. This worked very well as it facilitated deliveries to the site, and made it easier for boaters.

[Pluto]

The bridge in the original scheme was proposed to be operated from the towpath side. At the inquiry, I did point out that the operator needs to be closest to the place most likely to have an accident, such as children messing about as the bridge swung, and that adjacent to the swinging section was the best place from a safety point of view. From the towpath, the area behind the open bridge would be hidden. With operation from alongside the bridge, they do need to have suitable landing/mooring facilities, which it will be up to CRT to insist upon. Send in your letters about this to them now!