Warburton High Bridge

[Heartland]

The Three Bridges thread includes the Cantilever Rail Bridge that is the Forth Bridge. 

 

Warburton High Level Bridge is another cantilever steel bridge, which takes the toll road over the Manchester Ship Canal from Warburton to the A57. It is popular with motorists wishing to avoid motorway congestion, but at times leads to congestion at Warbuton whilst drivers queue up to pay the 12 pence toll. This local congestion is a frequent annoyance to residents and somebody decided to take matters a step further with the burning down of the toll booth in the early hours of May 10th. The owners Peel Ports have decided to replace the booth with a temporary  structure and intend now to upgrade the road, and weight limit on the bridge. The new toll office came into use on June 20th.

 

This toll road also includes a disused bridge that was the original toll bridge sanctioned under the 1863 that crossed the Mersey & Irwell Navigation and towing path between Butchetfield and Owlet Nest Locks.

[Pie Eater]

The last couple of times I went through payment was only being collected from northbound traffic. Southbound was free.

 

Mind you the new kiosk is so tiny there may not be room for 2 attendants.

[Cheshire cat]

It always puzzled me that it was 12p for a single or 25p for a day ticket. It turns out the maximum toll they are allowed to charge is half a crown.

[AndrewIC]

There is a similar (free) cantilever bridge over the MSC in Warrington, between London Rd and Knutsford Rd swing bridges.

 

I have always understood that the crossing of the MSC at Warburton was free (by statute? as are all other MSC crossings), and the toll is to cross the old bridge, now filled in below, across the former course of the Mersey. It seems the Acts, which pre-date the MSC, enabling the toll bridge were never repealed.

 

See this FOI request: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/rixton_warburton_toll_bridge_act

 

And this historical note: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Warburton_Bridge

 

 

 

[Heartland]

Yes the Rixton and Warburton Act was passed in 1863, but that bridge no longer spans the river, but a dried up and partly infilled section of the Mersey & Irwell Navigation.

I have heard that the MSC Act continued those tolls. Warrington Council have tried in the past to change this situation, but so far have failed.