Two iconic routes in Bolton which were used to transport coal across the north west in the Industrial Revolution have been reinvented as walking and cycling paths.

The Burnden viaduct crosses the A666 Carriageway and the nearby Darcy Lever viaduct goes over a smaller road nearby.

They were both built as part of the Bury to Bolton section of the railway line which went to Liverpool in the Industrial Revolition.

They transported coal from local pits near Darcy Level and in 1848 were hailed as the first of their kind in England.

But the railway line they served close in 1970 and in 1983 they were deemed non-operational.

The routes were managed by the National Highways but in 2008 Sustrans took over ownership of them through a lease arrangement with support from Bolton Council.

They were opened as a cycling, walking and horse riding route in 2015.

The Department for Transport granted permission to the lease to go ahead into the long term.

The project to transform the area has been completed and Sustrans will manage the viaducts on a day to day basis.

The routes now connect central Bolton with the eastern outskirts of the town.

Richard Marshall, National Highways’ historical railway estate director, said the routes would now be run by Sustains.

He said: “The work that’s been done by Sustrans to repurpose these structures and incorporate them into Route 66 of the National Cycle Network is a great example of how, by working closely with our partners, we can give the structures we look after as part of the Historical Railways Estate a new lease of life. 

“We have supported Sustrans, who now manage and maintain the bridge and viaduct on day-to-day basis, by providing technical advice, assuring the safety of the two structures.”