§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Transport how many new bridges have been built over the Manchester Ship Canal, and their cost, during the last 60 years: and how many have been built over the Thames, giving the name and cost of each bridge.
Mr. BraithwaiteFive railway bridges and nine road bridges were built over the 36-mile length of the Manchester Ship Canal before it was opened to traffic in 217W May, 1894. Information as to the cost of these bridges is not available. Since 1894 two more bridges have been built over the canal, the Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge in 1905 at a cost of £133,000 and the Railway Swing Bridge No. 2 (Manchester Docks) in 1944 at a cost of £108,000.
Over the 139 miles of the River Thames between Tilbury and Oxford 12 new bridges have been built in the last 60 years:
Year of Opening Name Approximate Cost £ 1. 1894 Tower Bridge 1,184,000 2. 1901 Whitchurch Toll Bridge Built privately, cost unknown 3. 1923 Bacey's Bridge 13,500 4. 1923 Reading Bridge 76,000 5. 1923 Seacourt Bridge 8,500 6. 1924 Goring and Streatley Bridge 32,000 7. 1926 Bulstake Bridge 15,000 8. 1926 Caversham Bridge 78,000 9. 1932 Oxpens Bridge 4,000 10. 1933 Chiswick Bridge 185,000 11. 1933 Twickenham Bridge 180,000 12. 1936 Free Ferry Footbridge 9,000 Other bridges over the Thames have been reconstructed during the same period.