The bridge is normally in an unrolled / flat position and you are likely to walk over it if you approach from the West (Paddington station) direction, quite possibly without even noticing that it is slightly unusual. There is a video of the bridge being rolled up on youtube here and there are details of specific times when the rolling bridge will be lifted (currently Midday every Wednesday and Friday and 2pm every Saturday) on the Merchant Square website here along with detail of other public events and restaurants around the canal area.
The Rolling Bridge was conceived by British designer Thomas Heatherwick, designed by SKM Anthony Hunt with Packman Lucas, and built by Little Hampton Welding Ltd. The Hydraulic design and development was done by Primary Fluid Power Ltd in the North West. The bridge consists of eight triangular sections hinged at the walkway level and connected above by two-part links that can be collapsed towards the deck by hydraulic cylinders, which are concealed in vertical posts in the bridge parapets. When extended, it resembles a conventional steel and timber footbridge, and is 12 metres long. To open, the hydraulic pistons are activated and the bridge curls up until its two ends join, to form an octagonal shape measuring one half of the waterway's width at that point.
The maintenance and opening of the bridge is managed by Merchant Square Estates and it is operated every Wednesday and Friday at noon. Thanks to the Merchant Square Estates manager for granting permission for this geocache.
There is another amazing bridge just a few hundred yards away, the Fan bridge. This is also described on the Merchant Square website above, and opens from one end rather like a handheld fan but on a massive scale. There is a video of the bridge being opened on youtube here. This bridge also has specific times when you can see it being operated.
The Little Bridges series was started by Stanthews in 2009 to highlight small footbridges in remote parts of Wiltshire. Since then the series has been expanded by others all over the country and starting to spread fast, Damian from Winter Foxes has created and updates a list of cachers who has found 10 or more little bridges and can be found here, if you would like to add to the series, please contact Stan on stanthews@aol.com and he will give you a number for your bridge, to qualify, the bridge must be a foot bridge too small for vehicles, please make sure your title exactly matches “Little Bridges # xx then name” including spaces so it will get picked up and added to Damian’s list.
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