Memories shared as city's £6.6m tram bridge opens

A couple who got engaged on a historical tram bridge 60 years ago have said it was lovely to see it reopen after being closed for seven years.

The 140-tonne crossing, linking Avenham Park in Preston city centre with Penwortham in South Ribble, replaces the original 200-year-old tram bridge which closed in 2019 over fears it would collapse.

Work began on the new £6.6m bridge two years ago but had to be paused over the winter of 2025 because of poor weather and breeding salmon in the River Ribble.

Alan and Jean Robinson, who have been married for 61 years, were some of the first people to cross the bridge when it officially reopened.

Alan said in 1964 the couple "ended up on the bridge on an evening walk and Jean said 'if it was a leap year I'd ask you to marry me' so I said to her 'will you marry me?' and she did".

Jean said she remembered "just how happy we were".

The new 130m (426ft) span steel bridge has camuru wood vertical deck panels with stone work on the approach.

Its designer, Preston-based architect John Bridge, said "everyone's got a memory of the old bridge" but today's opening "has been coming for so long, and I'm super excited".

"When you do the 3D visuals you hope that it has an aesthetic ilk of what's actually happening and I'm really enjoying people saying it's just like the visuals, it really hits home for me," he said.

"And seeing it now in the flesh is just the ultimate 'yes, we've done it'."

Adrian Phillips, chief executive of the city council said it was "the icing on the cake" to see it open after seven years.

During the next week there will be a series of free activities from guided walking tours to cycling the Guild Wheel to encourage people to experience the bridge and its surrounding parks and green spaces.

Visitors to Avenham and Miller Park can also take part in a self-guided Tram Bridge Heritage Trail, developed by Preston City Council.

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