 It opened to traffic on 9 August 1796, having cost a total of about £28,000.In 1805 the bridge had to be repaired after heat from the sun caused some of the cross tubes to fall out.From 1857 to 1859 it was reconstructed by Robert Stephenson, who stripped the bridge back to its six iron ribs and levelled the hump in its middle by raising the abutments.