John Powell reports that the previous swing bridge was replaced in 1973 with a new manually operated swing bridge for a Contract Sum of £13,461. 08p.

This bridge had a reputation for being difficult to stop once it had started to swing, a situation that tragically resulted in the death of a child.

John Powell reports that in 1986 the bridge was then upgraded, with the cannon-ball pintle replaced with a more modern system, and the bridge being made power-operated with power wedging with interlocking traffic safety barriers, can be operated only with a key provided by British Waterways. This was part of a joint contract that included Spencer's Bridge and Methodist Swing Bridge on the Leeds and Liverpool. The contract sum for the three bridges was £258,720.