A huge engineering project is well under way in Elland.
Specialist engineers say works are progressing well on rebuilding Elland Bridge and nearby Crowther Bridge, both of which suffered massive damage in the Boxing Day floods.
The repair schemes are being managed in parallel by the Canal and River Trust.
Both bridges over the Calder and Hebble Navigation Canal have been demolished, after engineers first removed historic stonework in a process almost like a giant jigsaw.
The contractors removed huge stone copings on top of the bridge, dressed stones over the arches, and remains of cast iron rope rollers to re-use in the rebuilt bridges which allowed boat tow ropes to run smoothly through the bridge when freight barges were pulled by horse.
Temporary clay dams have now been installed at either side of the bridge site so water can be drained from the canal below.
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A Canal and River Trust spokesman said: “At Elland we’ve been installing and sealing the clay dams either side of the bridge to make sure that the working area is free of water.
“We’ve also been removing additional silt and other debris to enable us to gain access to the bridge abutments.
“This week we’ve started to install the permanent piling which will be installed into the ground, forming an important part of the foundations for the new bridge.
“We’ve had some difficulties in installing temporary fabric dams around Crowther Bridge which has pushed us back by a day or so but we’re working hard to make up the lost time and get back on schedule.
“The dams will give a dry working area and before the canal was drained we carefully removed any fish in the stretch between the two dams.
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“Demolition of Crowther Bridge started last week and is expected to last for around ten days. As with Elland Bridge we’re carefully logging and removing the stone so that it can be stored and reused on the new bridge.”
The floods caused millions of pounds damage to bridges, to homes and businesses.
