The Cadishead Bridge was built in 1892 as part of the Cheshire Lines Committee railway route. It was a multi-lattice girder bridge with a 120ft span that was 75ft above the Manchester Ship Canal. The bridge was built to take four tracks although the Glazebrook East - Skelton Junction line was only double track. The original line closed as a through route after the new bridge opened to freight traffic on 27 February 1893 and to passenger services on 29 May 1893.