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Visiting Manchester and looking for beautiful bridges? I’ve got you covered!
From modern structures which were only built in the last 15 years to historic ones that date back to the 19th century, our Northern city is home to some of England’s most notable and iconic structures.
Many of which are located within the city centre or along the Manchester Ship Canal.
In this article, I tell you everything you need to know about the most beautiful bridges in Manchester, their history and where to find them.
1. Merchant’s Bridge
The Merchant’s Bridge in Manchester is an 85-tonne bridge with a distinctive curved design located in Castlefield.
Constructed in 1996 by Whitby Bird and Partners, the bridge is actually wider around its middle than at its ends.
It was specifically designed this way as it was believed that pedestrians would want to stop at its central point to take in the views.
Covering 67 metres, with an arch span of 38 metres, the bridge is made of white-painted steel.
The firm of structural engineers that designed it has won many awards for its design.
This includes a British Construction Industry Award in 1996, the Design Council Millennium Product Award in 1998 and the Civic Trust Award in 1998.
On the Slate Wharf, attached to the brick support, there is also a plaque for a special award which was bestowed to them in 1995 by the Institute of Structural Engineers.
📷 This is a very Instagram-friendly location so if you are looking for cool places to take pictures in Manchester, Castlefield area is definitely a great option.
2. Salford Quay Footbridge
If you have ever watched the BBC North West Tonight TV news show you may well recognise the Salford Quay Footbridge from its backdrop.
Also known as the Lowry Bridge and the Salford Quays Millennium footbridge, this 91.2-metre-long structure is a vertical lift bridge that crosses the Manchester Ship Canal.
Situated at the old Manchester Docks, near the terminus of the ship canal, this attractive pedestrian bridge was completed as recently as 2000.
It takes residence adjacent to The Lowry theatre and provides a convenient link from MediaCityUK and Salford Quays to the Imperial War Museum North and Trafford Wharf.
The bridge features a couple of arches that conjoin at their peaks and to enable larger water vessels to easily pass underneath, it has a lift of 18 metres that takes three minutes to complete.
3. Castlefield Viaduct
Of all the bridges in Manchester, the Castlefield Viaduct has arguably the most exciting future to look forward to.
Work recently completed by the National Trust transformed this stunning steel, Victorian-era viaduct, into a gorgeous green ‘sky park’ complete with stately trees, pretty plants and vibrant flowers.
If you’ve been to New York before, it will remind you of the High Line!
Situated within the oldest part of the city, it was constructed in 1869 by the same engineers who created the Blackpool Tower.
Closed 100 years later, it is now a Grade II-listed building that is perhaps best visited on one of the guided tours that showcase its history.
Spanning 330 meters, the steel viaduct used to carry dense rail traffic to and from the Great Northern Warehouse.
It remains one of 36 viaduct bridges that have been included within the Historical Railways Estate.
4. Corporation Street Bridge
Born out of necessity after the IRA bombings, Corporation Street Bridge is a skyway in the Manchester city centre that crosses Corporation Street.Â
It replaced the previous footbridge that was destroyed during the 1996 Manchester IRA bombing.
Taking the form of a twisted, tubular steel and glass footbridge, it links both Selfridges and Marks and Spencer to the Arndale Centre.
Devised by Hodder + Partners, who won a design competition, the hyperboloid bridge has a length of 18 metres and a diameter of 6.2 metres.
It was completed in 1999 and has won numerous awards.
It was one of the first structures to be built after the blast and has strong significance as a symbol of resilience and renaissance.
Part of the bridge hangs over the actual spot where the bomb went off.
Beneath this overhang stands the iconic red pillar box which was the only structure to survive the explosion.
5. Trinity Bridge
Linking the cities of Manchester and Salford by crossing the River Irwell, Trinity Bridge is a stunning three-way footbridge.
Arguably one of the most impressive bridges in Manchester, it was designed by the acclaimed Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava.
Constructed in 1995, it features his signature design of a structure that has white, straight lines.
Dominated by a rotund 41-metre-high pylon, it signified the initial developmental phase of the new Chapel Wharf which is situated in the former docklands.
Named after the nearby Trinity Church, the bridge is flanked by a brace of motor stone-arch bridges that spring from its Salford end.
They incorporate a design that facilitates and exploits the varying heights of the banks.
The pylon tilts at approximately a 60-degree angle and spans a distance of 54 metres to the opposite bank.
The bridge has an unusual feature in the way the cables are anchored in apertures within the pylon’s surface.
6. The Piccadilly Curve
Opened in 2006, the Piccadilly Curve is one of the newer bridges to open up in Manchester.
Located at Piccadilly Station, it was named by Jane Waterhouse, a resident of Salford Quays, who beat thousands of entrants in a competition to come up with something suitable.
Sometimes referred to as the Manchester Curve, it spans a 35-metre gap and stands nine metres high. It also weighs 35 tonnes and measures 4.5 metres in width.
Designed by the same team who created the iconic Hulme Arch, the bridge was actually constructed in Huddersfield, prior to being sent to Manchester where it was assembled on-site.
It is estimated that around 4.5 million people cross it over London Road every year, on their way towards the entrance of Piccadilly Station.
One of the coolest things about the bridge is that it actually reflects itself. It achieves this as a result of it curving along the line of the street.
7. Victoria Bridge
Named after the iconic Queen, Victoria Bridge is an imperious stone arch bridge that connects Manchester and Salford.
Completed in 1839, it replaced the Salford Old Bridge, which dated back to the 1300s. The original structure was built on the location of an ancient ford, from which Salford took its name.
Crossing the picturesque River Irwell, the present Victoria Bridge was built out of sandstone ashlar – which is believed to have been sourced from nearby Bury.
It incorporates a single 100-foot-long semi-elliptical arch that was recognised in 1988 as a Grade II listed building.
The bridge has two keystones that feature inscriptions of the names of John Gannon and Charles Carrington, who were respectively the contractor and bridge master.
Apparently, four ornamented iron gas lamps were included in the bridge’s original design. However, their lead supply pipes were stolen before its grand opening.
This meant the bridge could not be lit on the day it was scheduled to open.
8. Barton Road Swing Bridge
Crossing the Manchester Ship Canal between Barton-upon-Irwell in Salford and Trafford Park in Trafford, the Barton Road Swing Bridge plays a crucial role within Greater Manchester as a swing bridge for road traffic.
Spanning 195 feet in length and 18 feet in width, the bridge has been designated as a Grade II listed building.
It runs parallel to the Barton Swing Aqueduct and regularly opens to allow water vessels along the Manchester Ship Canal to pass through it.
This sometimes happens as much as 14 times a day – causing frustrating delays for motor traffic on the road!
The bridge, aqueduct and Manchester Ship Canal were inaugurated in 1894, although a bridge had resided at this location in one form or another for over 200 years.
Comprising a steel arch of girders, the bridge connects via a rack and pinion system, to the pivot point.
It is unique in that it is the only canal-based swing road bridge that rotates centrally in the country – as opposed to from one specific end.
9. Covered Bridges of Manchester Town Hall
Situated just a three-minute stroll from the Manchester Art Gallery, the Manchester Town Hall is an impressive Victorian municipal building that was completed in 1877.
Designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse and built in a Neo-gothic style, its facade is dominated by a 280-foot high clock tower.
It is also notable for its two covered bridges that connect it to a detached extension of the town hall that was constructed in 1938.
The town hall extension was the brainchild of architect Emanuel Vincent Harris who won a competition to come up with a design for it in 1927.
He also won a competition to come up with a design for the Central Library as well.
Spanning over Lloyd Street, these glazed and pedestrianised walkways hang at the first-floor level. Providing you with a convenient way to traverse between the two buildings.
Now that you know everything about the best Manchester bridges, the only thing left to do is to go out and explore! Have fun
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