Trust begins to build bridges

The Canal and River Trust has submitted plans to Calderdale Council to take down Crowther Bridge in Cromwell Bottom and build a new one.

The bridge was constructed over two hundred years ago and was designed to transport horse and cart (traffic of the day).

It was consequently closed to vehicular traffic and pedestrians following the floods.

The bridge was strengthened with a mass concrete saddle in the 1980’s and it is thought that the saddle is all that keeps the bridge standing at this present time.

In the proposals it outlines how the flooding ‘overtopped and inundated the canal’.

“The depth and quantity of water flowing down the canal was sufficient to undermine the bridge abutment on the south side causing it to subside and collapse into the canal.

“The structure is beyond the scope for repair.

“The proposed new bridge structure is considered to be the only viable option to provide an appropriate external appearance and a structure that is adequate in terms of stability and resilience against future flood damage.”

This approach provides a robust bridge that will not fail in the event of similar flood damages, its external appearance will reflect the design principles of the previous bridge.

The location of the bridge according to the Environment Agency (EA) is within a flood zone three, which has the highest known risk from flooding.

Calderdale Council has requested that the new bridge structure includes pedestrian access to replace the existing separate footbridge.

The new bridge will therefore be 1.5 metres wider than the existing structure to accommodate this requirement.

The work on Crowther Bridge is part of a joint project by the Canal and River Trust to rebuild nearby Elland Bridge, which was also heavily damaged in the floods