Work has begun to reconstruct the historic Union Chain Bridge across the Tweed, between England and Scotland.
Northumberland County Council said that after a lengthy process to dismantle the crossing point, inspect, repair, refurbish and replace the bridge’s components, work is now underway on the re-erection of the main suspension chains.
Over the coming weeks the remaining 11 chains will be put back up ahead of work on re-installing the deck hangers before starting to rebuild the bridge deck.
Northumberland CC cabinet member for local services John Riddle said: ‘This is yet another milestone and a very welcome one – to finally see this famous structure start to be put back together.
‘We’ve worked hard to retain as many of the original parts as is possible while also ensuring the bridge is able to fulfill its main purpose and everyone involved with the project is delighted to see the bridge once again taking shape.’
Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council executive member for infrastructure, travel and transport, said: ‘The restoration of the Union Chain Bridge is a hugely important project, reinstating a key crossing point between the Scottish Borders and Northumberland and protecting this historic structure for many, many years to come.”
Restoration of the 201-year-old structure, the oldest operational vehicle suspension bridge in the world, got underway in October 2020 and after it was dismantled teams of engineers spent last autumn inspecting, repairing and refurbishing all the components that made up the bridge.
Northumberland CC described the process of putting the chains back up as ‘painstaking work’. In total there are 1.25 miles of steel and the first chain was hauled out over a three-day period to re-connect the two countries.
It said the reconstruction and restoration works will continue for several months, with the famous bridge expected to re-open for use in late Spring 2022.
The structure, a key transport link between Scotland and England, received £3.14m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in September 2019.
The two councils committed match funding totalling £5.7m towards the £10.5m scheme, with other fundraising activities continuing to be progressed by the Friends of Union Chain Bridge.
