Description and History of Site:-
Keadby is one of two existing Scherzer rolling lift bridges in North Lincolnshire the other being Corporation Bridge in Grimsby. William Scherzer (1858 - 1893) is reported to have developed the rolling lift bridge concept in 1893, and the first bridges on this principal were designed to cross the Chicago River in Chicago in the year of his death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Donald_Scherzer

Opened in 1916, the King George V Bridge, known locally as Keadby Bridge, carries the A18 and a double-track railway over the River Trent.

Following the opening of Immingham Docks, the Great Central Railway had to replace their adjacent rail only swing bridge that had been built in 1866 and was inadequate for the greatly increased traffic. The earlier bridge had been built by the South Yorkshire railway to provide access to the newly discovered ironstone in Scunthorpe.

Keadby Bridge was built using the Scherzer rolling-lift bascule concept and was one of the first of its type in Britain and the heaviest in Europe when built. When operational the bridge deck simultaneously rolled and rotated on its 163ft (49.68m) counterbalanced tail until the opening span was almost vertical. Designed by James Ball and built by Sir William Arrol & Company for the London and North Eastern Railway the bridge has three main spans: two fixed spans of 134ft (40.84m) and 140ft (42.67m) and a lifting span giving a 150ft (45.72) clear waterway across the navigation channel.

There are two secondary spans on the eastern bank, a 70ft (21.34m) approach span and a 40ft(12.19m) span onto which the opening span rolls, giving a total distance between abutments of 548ft (167m). All 5 spans are carried on 3 principal lattice girders, the central girder being located between the road and railway. Keadby bridge contains about 3,000 tons of steel.

Electrically operated the bridge originally used storage batteries charged by petrol-driven generators

In 1960 due to an increase in road traffic and reduction in river traffic the bascule was fastened down permanently.

Road traffic over the bridge was greatly reduced by the opening of the adjacent M180.

Further Reading and References:-
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MLS7331&resourceID=1034
Labrum E A, Civil Engineering Heritage - Eastern and Central England, Thomas Telford, 1994
Ball J B, Keadby Bridge. Mm. Proc. Instn Civ. Engrs Part 1 1916 203 Nov. 33.
Anon, The Engineer, Vol 142, 1926, p488
Wright N R, Lincolnshire's Industrial Heritage - A Guide, Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, 2004,NL8-p28

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Key Words :- combined road and railway Scherzer lifting bridge

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public footpath

Address :- A18, Gunness, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, DN15 8SX
Grid Ref :- SE 84093 10652
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.585721 , Long -0.731166
Local Authority :- North Lincolnshire District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Lincolnshire - Lindsey
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1067725,
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1916 -
Record Date :- 25 August 2020

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter