Old Tram Bridge construction site dam partly washed away

The coffer dam submerged in the River Ribble Pic: Blog Preston

Part of the construction site on the new Old Tram Bridge has been washed away in Monday’s heavy rain.

Work on replacing the River Ribble footbridge has been taking place throughout the summer with the demolition of the former bridge.

But Monday’s washout meant a ‘coffer dam’ – which provides a space for construction workers to get into the river and work – was breached.

Pictures sent to Blog Preston show a gaping hole in the side of the dam as sandbags were washed away by rapidly rising river levels. The pictures below show the coffer dam now but also how it was when initially installed.

The River Ribble running high and breaching the coffer dam Pic: Blog Preston

The coffer dam before it was damaged Pic: Blog Preston

The River Ribble was under flood alert throughout much of Monday due to the deluge of rain.

A Preston City Council spokesperson told Blog Preston: “The cofferdam Eric Wright Civil Engineering are using is made of bags full of clean gravel used to make a wall. There is sheeting over the top to reduce leaks and a curtain across the river downstream to prevent disturbed silt polluting the water.

“On the Monday, the heavy rain caused the river to rise and this along with a large tree in the river led to some damage to the coffer dam. The full extent of the damage has yet to be reviewed but increased water levels have been anticipated with high tides also being a feature going into Autumn. The cofferdam will be repaired with new refilled gravel bags once the water recedes. All these works have been permitted by the Environment Agency.

“Whilst this will cause some delay this week, progress has fortunately been good to date. The bad weather coincides with a break in the programme to avoid high Autumn tides, and allow assembly of steel cages that will be placed in the foundation later in Autumn 2024.”

An aerial view of the cofferdam in place before it was damaged Pic: Preston City Council

Engineers leading the project said they had been hoping for an ‘Indian summer’ to be able to remain working in the river until early November to install the first of two in-river piers.

The Tram Bridge’s location in the river means work has to stop over the winter, and then throughout the salmon breeding season, meaning it is unlikely the new bridge will be ready until late 2025.

Work on the replacement bridge officially began in May this year after the previous bridge was shut in February 2019 due to safety concerns.

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