8.2 million pounds! The Preston Tram Bridge

At a reported cost of around 8.2 million pounds (though it was originally estimated to cost around 6 million) Preston's new Tram Bridge officially opened on May 22, 2026, reconnecting Avenham Park in the city centre with Penwortham over the River Ribble. The 130-meter modern steel crossing replaced a historic 200-year-old wooden structure and serves as a vital route for pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders. At the tram bridge site, on the South Ribble side of the riverbank, a banner has gone up about the ‘Float To Live’ campaign which was launched explaining if someone has got into difficulty what should be done. The Mayor of Preston officially opened the bridge with a ribbon cutting which was followed by a procession over the bridge featuring community groups and live entertainment. he original tram bridge was closed in February 2019 due to serious safety concerns. Its designer, Preston-based architect John Bridge, said "everyone's got a memory of the old bridge". The original Tram Bridge opened in 1804 to carry packhorse 'trams' between the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Walton Summit and the Lancaster Canal in Preston.​ The bridge operated for approximately 40 years before falling into disrepair. Badly damaged by flooding in 1936 after which it was rebuilt with concrete trestle supports in the river. These were made of railway rails surrounded in concrete. In the high temperatures (and even as this was filmed) people continued to visit the ‘mini beach’ which has been revealed since the works finished and the route between Preston and South Ribble restored and people are still swimming and wading (hopefully safely) in the water. And "hi" to the Everton fan!