The structure, which celebrates its 100th birthday next year, is due to be lifted off its mounting by the biggest mobile crane in Britain so work can start on March 9.

Preparation for that process began this week with security fences being put up around the car park between the bridge and the derelict shell of the Wheatsheaf pub.

"We're getting the site ready now," said British Waterways spokesman Guy Lawson.

"It's going to take a few weeks to prepare it so we can start work on the bridge.

"The bridge needs to be in a good condition, not just for heritage but also for the people of Northwich."

Efforts to cut the amount of time it will take to repair the bridge, and minimise the effect the closure will have on Northwich's road, seem to have gathered pace.

As far back as early January, the county council agreed to let Kvaerner Construction, the contractor doing the job, work at night and over weekends.

But councillors said that was on the condition that Northwich's environmental health officer agreed to the longer working hours.

Yesterday, Tuesday, a Vale Royal spokesman confirmed the council had agreed in principle, to longer hours.

But they stressed the contractor had to provide a "scheme of noise controls".

"We need to protect the residents in the area and the residents of the Friendly Floatel from noise," she said.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.