Map 7
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Estimated cost of the bridge was approx 300,000 (UKP) plus a lot of volunteer labour.
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In the registry of West Sussex County Council bridges, of which there are over 600, 'Drungewick Lane Bridge' is the name of the bridge over the river. The title 'Drungewick Canal Bridge' was rejected because this is not the 'Drungewick Canal'. So the official name was chosen as 'Drungewick Lane Canal Bridge'.
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The Bridge Opening
At 12 noon, Thursday 20 September, Sir Neil Cossons OBE, Chairman of both English Heritage and The Waterways Trust, was Guest of Honour at the twice postponed official opening of this new bridge which marks the completion of Phase One of the Loxwood Link Extension.
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|  | | The new bridge looked just fine, waiting for its official opening. The circumstances forcing the delay of the opening date in May had a positive side in that the grass had been able to become established around the bridge.
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| The special guests and dignitaries arrived from Loxwood aboard the Trust's trip boat 'Zachariah Keppel'.
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|  | | In spite of the forecast of heavy showers the weather stayed fine and many people came to witness this notable event.
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| The commemorative plaque on the bridge parapet was unveiled by Sir Neil Cossons, seen here shaking hands with the Canal Trust Chairman Peter Foulger.
On the left is Dr David Fletcher, Chief Executive of British Waterways.
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|  | | The commemorative plaque, fixed to the bridge parapet by non-extractable screws.
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| Then the steam launch Esteem with Sir Neil Cossons on board, travelled under the bridge, becoming the first official boat to traverse this part of the canal for over 150 years.
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|  | | The assembled crowd consisting of around 150 people watched as Sir Neil Cossons performed a significant ceremony -
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| Reaching the other side of the bridge he poured water from both the River Wey and the River Arun into the canal, thus emphasising the ultimate goal of the project, to link once again the two rivers with a navigable canal.
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|  | | On the other side of the river Lox the canal had been extended from the existing winding hole right up to the 'heavy plant crossing'.[More]
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| Trust volunteers had worked hard to complete this crossing in time for the bridge opening.
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|  | | Many of those present had brought a picnic lunch and this 'heavy plant crossing' proved to be a most convenient place to have it.
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| During lunch in the VIP marquee Peter Foulger, Chairman of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust presented Sir Neil Cossons with a drawing of the new canal bridge.
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|  | | Among the special guests who graciously honoured the Canal Trust on this occasion were (from left to right) -
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Cllr Bernard Trinkwom - Chairman Chichester District Council
Cllr Don Ayling - Mayor of Arundel
Elspeth Mccreadie - Mayoress of Arundel
Cllr Margaret Johnson - Chairman West Sussex Count Council
Sir N Cossons OBE
Peter Foulger - Chairman Wey & Arun Canal Trust
Cllr Michael Goodridge - Mayor of Waverley
Mrs Goodridge - Mayoress of Waverley.
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| And when the crowds had gone -
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From the bridge parapet the 'gap' between the two parts of the canal is seen. From the dam on the left, the ground slopes down to the River Lox, with the heavy plant crossing visible beyond the river in the distance.
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| | From the other side of the river, the two yellow posts in the foreground denote the width of the navigation channel at the future aqueduct, with the river immediately behind them. Just visible at the extreme left is a horizontal marker denoting the canal water level. |
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