Eadon was recently appointed by Amey to carry out a mechanical and electrical inspection on Bell’s Place Bridge, a small footbridge which spans the Water of Leith in Edinburgh. 

Even though it’s small, the bridge has a unique and clever lifting mechanism. Unlike many lift bridges, which open by pivoting upwards, the entire deck of Bell’s Place Bridge rises vertically. A system of steel cables, pulleys and winding equipment lifts the deck between four concrete columns, known as pilasters. Guides within the pilasters help to keep the deck straight and level as it moves. 

The bridge only needs to be raised during periods of flooding and was originally designed for manual operation – however, the number of turns required to lift the deck made this impractical, so a motor was added to power the winding mechanism. 

As part of the bridge’s six-yearly principal inspection, Eadon assessed its mechanical and electrical systems, while Amey prepared a structural report on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. 

Overall, the lifting equipment was found to be in good working order, with no significant mechanical work required. 

It was a pleasure to work with Amey again and to examine a unique and interesting piece of bridge engineering.