From old to outstanding

The Tram Bridge has always meant something to Preston.

Not just as a way across the River Ribble, but as a piece of the city’s identity. Built in 1802 and known locally as the Old Tram Bridge, it has stood for more than two centuries as part of the landscape, part of people’s routines, and part of the story of the city itself.

Now, after years out of action and an enormous rebuild behind the scenes, it’s back.

The bridge officially reopens to the public on 22 May, following a complete transformation that has seen the historic crossing rebuilt for a new generation. What returns is not a replica frozen in time, but a modern 130-metre structure designed to carry the spirit of the original into the future.

When the bridge closed in February 2019 over serious safety concerns, its future looked uncertain. For a while, the crossing sat silent over the Ribble, fenced off and missed by the people who used it every day.

But the city never stopped caring about it.

In December 2025, crowds lined the riverbanks to watch one of the biggest moments in the project as the new 140-tonne bridge was lifted into place in four huge sections by one of the largest cranes in the country. Piece by piece, the connection between Preston and South Ribble was restored.

Since then, the project has already been recognised nationally, shortlisted for Active Travel Project of the Year at the NCE Bridges Awards 2026, celebrating innovation and engineering across the UK.

The reopening is about more than infrastructure. The bridge will once again carry pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders across the river, reconnecting routes that have been missing for years. But it also restores something less tangible — a familiar landmark that matters to people.

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. This has been a huge project with an enormous amount of work involved. The public interest over the course of the project has shown how much the bridge means to the local community and the pride that Prestonians have in their city’s rich cultural history and iconic landmarks.”

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 to restore this important link between Preston and South Ribble, improving active travel connections for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, making it easier for people to choose more sustainable ways to travel.”

For the team behind the build, the project carried a weight beyond engineering.

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.”

Delivered by Preston City Council and built by Eric Wright Civil Engineering, the £8 million project was funded through a £20 million UK Government grant programme alongside a £1 million contribution from Lancashire County Council.

For Preston, though, the value of the bridge has never really been measured in pounds.

It’s in the connection it brings back. The memories attached to it. The sight of it stretching across the Ribble again after years away.

The Tram Bridge has always belonged to Preston.

Now it belongs to the future too.

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