Geograph - photograph every grid square

SJ7697 : Barton road bridge

In the 1960s I worked in Trafford Park on one side of this bridge and lived in Eccles, on the other side. Trafford Park was still a major employment area and the Manchester Ship Canal well used by large vessels. People going to and leaving work were regularly delayed by the opening of the bridge and swore that the Canal Company deliberately chose to open it at peak times as a matter of policy!

Now and again, on very hot summer days the bridge is opened to let a ship pass, only to find that afterwards it can't shut completely because of expansion caused by the heat. The Fire Brigade then have to attend to hose it down and cool it off to enable it to close. This can take some time.