Everything you need to know as Preston's £8m Tram Bridge opens this week

Preston’s new Tram Bridge will officially open to the public on Friday (May 22) with a grand opening ceremony and a week-long community programme to celebrate. The Mayor of Preston will open the bridge with a ribbon cutting at 12.30pm, followed by a ceremony on the bridge featuring community groups and live entertainment.

The original tram bridge was closed in February 2019 due to serious safety concerns. Seven years on, the bridge over the River Ribble has been completely rebuilt and transformed into a modern 130-metre landmark, designed for people to enjoy and use for generations to come.

Work on the £8.2m replacement started in the summer of 2024 after funding was secured the previous year as part of Preston City Council’s bid for cash from the government’s Levelling Up Fund. That followed a local campaign for the project to be included in the proposed schemes to be pitched to ministers.

The original tram bridge structure was built in 1802 to carry goods across the Ribble between Preston and Walton Summit - and opened in 1804. It was largely rebuilt in 1935 after being badly damaged by high flood waters and a new deck was installed to replace the previous timber one in 1966.

It is the concrete beams put in place as part of that process that lay at the heart of many of the last bridge's problems - with two out of three them displaying cracks. Overall, the structure was found to have 200 defects in 2019. Now, the new bridge will reinstate the link between Preston and South Ribble across the River Ribble.

Councillor Valerie Wise, cabinet member for community wealth building at Preston City Council, said: “We’re delighted to open the tram bridge to the public and unveil this new landmark for everyone to enjoy and use. The day itself will be a historic occasion, and we want as many people as possible to come along to the celebrations and be among the first to walk across the new Tram Bridge. This has been a huge project in the city with an enormous amount of work involved. The last three years has shown how much the bridge means to the local community and the pride people have in the bridge.”

County Councillor Stephen Atkinson, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said: We’re proud to have played a key role in the delivery of the new Tram Bridge, working with Preston City Council to restore this important link between Preston and South Ribble. Our £1 million contribution reflects our commitment to improving connections for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, and making it easier for people to choose more sustainable ways to travel. We look forward to seeing the bridge open and would encourage residents to come along and be part of the celebrations.”

The bridge will be open to horse riders as a bridleway, as well as to pedestrians and cyclists. This will be reflected in a week of activities, including fun runs, community bike rides and a guided tour exploring the history of the Tram Bridge, led by Friends of the Tram Bridge.

The Tram Bridge is part of the council’s Active Travel Preston initiative, re-establishing an important connection between Preston and South Ribble and supporting healthier, more sustainable travel.

The total cost of the Tram Bridge was £8m, delivered by Preston City Council and constructed by Eric Wright Civil Engineering, using part of a £20 million grant awarded by the UK Government, alongside an additional £1 million contribution from Lancashire County Council.

Gavin Hulme, Managing Director of Eric Wright Civil Engineering, said: “Our team is immensely proud to have played a part in bringing Preston’s historic Tram Bridge back to life. This project holds real significance for the city, not only as a vital connection across the River Ribble, but also as a landmark that celebrates local heritage and supports a more sustainable future. It is equally meaningful to us as a local business, given its location right on our doorstep. We have a long history of working together with Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council, so it has been a huge privilege to see these relationships continue in delivering a bridge that will serve the community for generations to come.”

Tram Bridge Exhibition

Ahead of the opening of the new Tram Bridge, Preston City Council is inviting residents to share their photographs and memories of the historic old tram bridge to be featured in a special exhibition. The exhibition will form part of the opening of the Tram Bridge on Friday 22nd May and showcase people’s images of local people with the old tram bridge, celebrating the cities and communities pride for this much‑loved landmark. Residents who would like to be considered for inclusion are encouraged to submit a photograph, along with their name and a short memory or reflection about the bridge. Email to [email protected] by Thursday 14th May