Liverpool’s historic Bascule Bridge on Regent Road was today (25th August 2010) re-opened to the public by Peel and City Council Leader Joe Anderson.
The official ribbon cutting ceremony took place at 12.30pm today at the bridge with local councillors, council highways department and representatives from the construction company also in attendance.
The 78 year old year old Bascule Bridge was closed for inspection and repair in May 2008 and subsequently condemned due to natural corrosion. Since this date, the owners of the bridge Peel, has worked closely with Liverpool Council’s Heritage and Highways Departments to find an amicable solution to safeguard this landmark.
The bridge is the only surviving example of a rolling Bascule lifting bridge in Liverpool and is an integral feature of the Stanley Dock Conservation Area and the World Heritage designation. It is also an important link in the north south highway network.
In addition to repairs and replacement of parts of the steel structure, the timber engine house on top of the bridge has been given a new natural slate roof and aluminium rainwater pipes making it a key feature of the overall design. The motorised equipment has been retained inside the engine room and the bridge has been painted in its original colours.
Ian Pollitt, Development Investment Surveyor at Peel said, “We are delighted to announce that the Bascule Bridge is now open to the public once again. We have worked very closely with a number of organisations to ensure that this historic asset remained in keeping with its heritage status and are pleased that it is now back in working order and can be used once again.”
Lindsey Ashworth, Development Director at Peel said, “Peel takes very seriously the preservation of any historic elements within its ownership and this demonstrates our commitment to retaining such impressive engineering structures where practical to do so.
Liverpool Waters, our proposed £5.5 billion regeneration of the derelict parts of the docks has within its boundaries other historic assets that we also have plans to enhance and preserve, details of which will be revealed later this year through our planning application.”
City Council Leader Joe Anderson said, “We have worked closely with Peel to ensure that this historic bridge is restored and brought back into operation. I am very pleased that, not only is it back in use, but it has been sensitively restored in keeping with the World Heritage status of the area. It is a key feature of the dockland landscape and an important element in a major gateway to the city centre.”