The Canal & River Trust, working in partnership with Sandwell Council, has reopened the 129-year-old Wrights Bridge after extensive repairs.
Located on the Dudley No. 2 Canal, the bridge connects local people to the Old Hill railway station and has been closed for several years due to safety concerns about the bridge deck and its structural supports. Constructed in 1896, it was originally manufactured by renowned steel-maker Dormon Long & Co, which also built Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Thanks to funding from Sandwell Council’s Towns Fund, the bridge has been extensively repaired and now offers an easy walking and cycling route across the canal.
The 14-week project involved replacing and repairing the worn-out wooden sections of bridge deck and its steel supporting beams. Where possible, sections of the bridge were kept, preserving as much of the original bridge as possible. The supporting brick walls were also repaired, and the bridge access ramps have been resurfaced.
Awarded in 2022, the Towns Fund grant was an investment of £2.3 million aimed at improving canal towpaths. The Canal Network Connectivity Project has improved four-and-a-half miles of towpath improvements along the Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal, the Gower Branch Canal, the Old Mainline Canal and the Dudley No. 2 Canal.
Henriette Breukelaar, director for the West Midlands at Canal & River Trust, said: “It’s wonderful to see this bridge back open after being closed for many years. We thank Sandwell Council and The Rowley Regis Towns Fund Board for their support in getting this important community amenity back in use.
“As a charity, we are facing some challenging financial times, and support like this allows us to carry out repairs like this without having to divert the money needed to keep our canals open.”
Coun Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and infrastructure, said: “By making the bridge safe and reopening it to the public, we are reinvigorating the area as a place to visit, enjoy, and use in our everyday lives.”
For more information on The Canal Network Connectivity Project, visit https://regeneratingsandwell.co.uk/sandwell_projects/canal-network-connectivity/
