Stroud, Lodgemore Bridge

WSP Textiles Ltd for facililtating this camera's location and Stroud District Council and Cotswold Canals Trust  for facilitating this camera's location and capitally funding its installation. Within Stroud District, the Cotswold Canals comprise the corridors of the Stroudwater Canal and the Thames & Severn Canal. Lodgemoor Lane Bridge provides convenient access across the Stroudwater Canal to an industrial site that houses the last remaining textile manufacturing plant in Stroud.In order to facilitate navigation and improve the waterway, the outdated swing bridge was replaced with a fixed bridge, which unfortunately obstructed passage. To address this issue and enhance the canal's navigability along a 6-mile stretch from Stroud to Stonehouse, a renewal scheme was devised. However, due to the unavailability of suitable land for constructing ramps to elevate the roadway to the required height for a fixed bridge with sufficient clearance for boats, the decision was made to install a lift bridge instead.The renewal scheme is led by Stroud District Council and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The contract for the removal of the old bridge and the construction and installation of the new lift bridge was awarded to ECS Engineering Solutions, a reputable company based in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.The new bridge maintains the same width as its predecessor, measuring 4 meters, but offers a significantly higher weight limit of 30 tons compared to the previous restriction of 8 tons. This upgrade allows for the passage of much heavier vehicles, providing improved access to the industrial site.To prevent any potential pollution during the demolition process, a pontoon was constructed beneath the old bridge, effectively catching any debris or materials that could have fallen into the water.Despite encountering challenges during the construction of the piling and abutments, including the discovery of a large void filled with deteriorated timber, the project to install the new counterbalanced bridge was successfully completed on schedule and within the allocated budget.ECS Engineering Solutions also provided and installed the manually operated hydraulic lifting system. The operating mechanism is securely housed in a robust steel cabinet with restricted access limited to authorized personnel.