Taziker behind 拢3.6m revamp at Shropshire landmark

Bolton firm Taziker Industrial has begun repair work on the grade I listed Iron Bridge in Shropshire.

The 拢3.6m scheme is English Heritage鈥檚 largest conservation project since it became a charity in 2015 and is being helped out with a 鈧1m donation from a German foundation.

The Hermann Reemtsma Foundation, which mainly promotes cultural and social projects in northern Germany, said this was its first funding in the UK.

The bridge, constructed over the River Severn in 1779, was the world鈥檚 first single span arch bridge to be made of cast iron.

English Heritage has launched its first crowdfunding campaign to raise the remaining 拢25,000 it needs to help save the bridge it calls 鈥渙ne of the wonders of the modern world鈥.

Surveys and investigations have shown that the Iron Bridge is under threat from cracking due to stresses in the ironwork dating from the original construction.

Work will include reinforcing the different elements of the bridge: the iron radials and braces holding the bridge together, the deck plates and wedges, as well as the main iron arch itself. The bridge will also be repainted.

Taziker, which has worked on a host of historic bridges including Brunel鈥檚 Royal Albert Bridge in Plymouth, is expected to complete work by early 2019.