Bridge restoration steams ahead

Work will begin when water levels on the River Dee drop

A historic railway bridge spanning the River Dee is to be completely restored after a major fundraising effort.

Volunteers at the Llangollen Railway Society (LRS) say they have raised £50, 000 towards a facelift for the bridge at Berwyn, Denbighshire.

It means work on the structure can begin when water in the river drops to summertime levels.

But LRS commercial manager Les Green said the fundraising would continue as the final bill will top £85,000.

"We've faced bigger challenges, and I'm sure we will get there," said Mr Green.

The steel and brickwork bridge is the only point where the Llangollen Railway crosses the River Dee, and was built when the line opened in 1862.

The foundations have to be renovated, brickwork needs repairing, and the steelwork on the top has rust in places Les Green, Llangollen Railway Society

The passenger service on the railway came to a halt in 1965, but volunteers set up the LRS in 1975 to reopen and restore the tracks, running mostly steam engines that attract an estimated 100,000 visitors to the area annually.

But society said little restoration work had been carried out on the Berwyn bridge since the 1970s.

"This will be a complete renovation of the bridge," insisted Mr Green.

"It is on a river so it is subjected to some erosion. The foundations have to be renovated, brickwork needs repairing, and the steelwork on the top has rust in places that we will clean up."

Strengthening of the bridge will also mean that a 5mph speed limit on that section of the track can be increased to 15mph.

The LRS said it would also be working closely with the Environment Agency on the project, as the stretch of the River Dee is home to salmon and freshwater mussels.

The bridge renovation is the latest in a long line of schemes to improve the railway, including £35,000 to restore the exterior of Berwyn station and another £10,000 on the Llangollen station tearoom.