Barton High Level Bridge
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Barton High Level Bridge was opened on 21st March 1961 as the Stretford - Eccles by-pass, it became part of the M63 and serves as part of what has become the western outer ring road for Manchester (now M60).
The bridge is approximately 740 m. (2425 ft.) long and crosses the Ship Canal with approximately 30.5 m. (100 ft.) clearance over water level. Supporting the bridge are reinforced concrete piers which vary in height from 9.1 m. (30 ft.) to 24.4 m. (80 ft.)
Originally it was built as a dual carriage way but this proved inefficient and was later exetended to three lanes and reopend in 1990.
Although some what of a local landmark Barton Bridge also claimed the lives of four men who helped construct it, scaffolding gave way killing three of them instantly, the fourth died a few days later in hospital. Along with the numerous deaths dozens of others were also injured whilst it was being built.
As a result of this accident ,work was delayed on the bridge by a further five weeks. Along with various other issues including costs and the constant changing of contractors, the total delay in completing the bridge stretched out to one year, which incurred massive costs.
The one thing that people fail to realise with Barton Bridge is that it also has walkways underneath it. As bridges go we normally take them for granted and use them for a purpose ie. to cross over otherwise impossible obstacles.
Its only when you look underneath a bridge you realise there is another side to them, Barton being one them. The underneath of Barton hides a very unique secret though.
Stretching the entire length of the bridge is a giant walkway with gantrys sprouting off over each of the supporting concrete piers, which is used for maintenence access by structural engineers.
Stretching 2,425 feet in length and at a height of 100 feet above the Manchester ship canal, the bridge is an iconic landmark of Manchester.
Well afer crossing over Barton so many times in the normal sense it was an opportunity to good to miss to cross it from underneath.
Surprisingly our explore of Barton took 4 hours! What we didnt realise until we were underneath, is the that the bridge has inspection platforms splitting off from the main walkway.
An exceptional explore if not very different, of one of Manchesters most iconic structures.
