A landmark bridge in the middle of Stockport has been removed as part of the redevelopment of the town centre.
The Bridgefield Street bridge up to the Merseyway car park was removed to make way for the construction of the new cinema and leisure scheme, Redrock Stockport.
Installed in 1980 to give cars access to the Merseyway car park, the bridge has been used by millions of cars over the years.
Almost 40 years later, and having been replaced 20 years ago, the £45m regeneration of the area into a new leisure and retail centre has seen the bridge removed following its closure earlier this year.
History went full circle as Mabey Bridges, the team responsible for installing the latest bridge during the 1990s were employed to oversee its removal, ensuring the safe removal of the 40 tonne structure.
Working round the clock, precision engineering saw sections of the metal lifted out using a 200 tonne crane.
Visitors to the town centre over recent months will not have been able to help but see that building work is well now under way on different projects.
Redrock is the new cinema and leisure development being built by main contractor, Wates Construction, on the former Great Egerton Street car park.
Bringing a 10 screen The Light Cinema, new restaurants including Pizza Express and Zizzi, and high quality landscaped areas to the town centre, Redrock will transform this area of Stockport.
A new 36- space multi-storey car park is also being built as part of the scheme that will link to the Debenhams roof top giving visitors access to over 1,200 parking spaces.
Caroline Simpson, Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration, said: “I am excited to see all the work taking place across Stockport at the moment. The removal of the Bridgefield Street bridge is just another sign of how well our work is progressing.
“The potential of Stockport town centre is clear to see and we want this, and our vision for a more successful town that creates new jobs and opportunities for residents and businesses, to be fulfilled.”
All of the shops and businesses in Stockport town centre remain open for business whilst work to improve Stockport is taking place. Merseyway car park remains open and is accessed from St Petersgate and Great Underbank.
