A MAJOR milestone has been reached in the restoration of the Lichfield Canal after a new liftbridge was installed.
The three-day operation saw manufacturers ProMack Ltd position the steel structure over the historic route between Tamworth Road and Longbridge Road at Gallows Reach.
The liftbridge sits at a key point where the restored waterway will cross a long-established public right of way. It will normally remain in the lowered position for pedestrians, rising only when boats pass beneath once navigation is restored.
The project has been funded entirely through donations, including £39,000 pledged during Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust’s 2022 Big Give Christmas Challenge.
Derek Lord, the trust’s planning and technical trustee, said:
“This is a major step for the restoration, and a moment people can really see and connect with.
“The liftbridge doesn’t just reconnect a footpath, it reconnects people with the canal’s future. It’s a clear, visible sign of progress and a reminder that every donation and every hour of volunteer effort is helping to bring boats back to Lichfield.”
With the liftbridge now installed, work at Gallows Reach is expected to see water in the stretch of the canal by 2027.
