Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 26th October, 2014)

William Kelly Wallace chief engineer of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway, designed the rebuilding of this four-span railway viaduct. It was the first bridge in the country to carry live railway loads on pre-stressed precast concrete beams.
The original bridge carried the then Liverpool & Bury Railway and was constructed in 1847. It was strengthened three times before its rebuilding in 1947.
The concrete beams are 2ft 8in deep and six are used per track, plus one for each parapet. Pre-stressed precast beams had been prepared first in 1938-39 for emergency wartime use for replacing damaged road bridges over railways.

GOOD SHOT

I'm afraid I don't recognise this new bit of Wigan, a lot can change in a short time.

Eased the traffic flow out of Wigan but still confusion has to which lane you have to use after the bridge?

It's as though the railway bridge was made for that new road.

To avoid any confusion I was actually standing on Adam Bridge to take the photograph. Adam Bridge is where the River Douglas passes under Warrington Road.

Nice pic Aubrey. I see the bridge has graffiti on it already.

Nice pic Aubrey and thanks for the information Mick - there's always a lot more to things than we think.

Bradshaws Girl
Did your ancestor write that railway guide that Portillo carrys around?

Nice pic, Aubrey.

britboy..you wouldn't recognise Wigan now. It's been moved to Birmingham.!!

Garry,
before the road was built - Mick's P-a-D 16.07.11:-
http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/photoaday.php?photo=2011-07-16

It would have been a better photo without the car and people in the shot.

Surely Mick, you mean chief CIVIL engineer of the LMS ?
Just for the sake of accuracy, Chief Engineer was a title commonly used to refer to the chief MECHANICAL engineer, The chief mechanical engineers of the LMS being Henry Fowler, Ernest Lemon, William Stanier, Charles Fairburn and George Ivatt but I remember no William Kelly Wallace !
(No offence intended.)

I agree Alan.

The original bridge was constructed in 1849. During it's life its been strengthened three times. It was rebuilt in 1947, by Chief engineer and designer of the LMS, William Kelly Wallace and constructed by Leonard Fairclough.

Marcus I got the clever technical information from here.

http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=537

Mick, I see references to the ICE in this website - so looks like Chief Civil Engineer.
Interesting post - also Colin's reference to Leonard Fairclough, a great "local" character.

Lovely pic brother

Alan and Alex,
I did want to show the junction being used, as opposed to looking brand new.

I was told that Engineering Students from all over the Country are brought here to see this pre stressed concrete bridge

Thanks everyone, I am glad you found the photo interesting.

It actually joins onto Ormskirk Rd.

Dave,
Thanks you are correct,my memory failed me.

ann21, Really!!! I,m clearly missing something here