From the early part of the last century, until 1961, a transporter bridge carried people, and a very restricted number of vehicles it must be said, between Runcorn and Widnes, over the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal. This bridge was owned and operated by the former Widnes Borough Council. It was the longest span continually operating transporter bridge in the world. However it outlived its usefulness and needed high maintenance. With the growth of vehicle traffic the old bridge just could not cope, and a new high level single arch bridge replaced it in 1961. The transporter bridge was pulled down a year or so later and the only remaining visible signs are the two access roads on each side of the river.
Transporter bridges can still be seen in Britain at Newport. Monmouthshire, and at Middlesboro, Teeside, and there is still a small one across the Mersey at Warrington, inside a factory. There the River Mersey is much narrower than it is at Runcorn. Here are a few pictures of the old bridge.
The Transporter Bridge opened in 1905. Span 1000 ft.(304.8m.). Height above high water 82 ft.(25m.)
