THIS is why Bolton’s Trinity Street Bridge was closed to traffic from midnight on Saturday until Sunday afternoon back in June 1968.

It is the moment two 45-ton steel girders were being installed temporarily to carry a portion of the existing bridge while the remainder was being reconstructed.

Here we can see them being lowered into place.

Workmen were on the site from shortly after dawn to get the 113ft long girders into position on the quietest day of the week.

It was a sensible move as clearly there would be fewer cars about then leaving the workmen to go about their business in relative peace.

A crane hoisted the girders into position after they arrived at the site from Bullside railway sidings where they had been stored.

We are sure this photograph will appeal to many of our readers particularly those with an interest in the Trinity Street railway station and this part of Bolton town centre.

The clock tower still stands today, of course, but the building looks very different today and has changed considerably in 50 years.