Workers finished installing a 67-metre steel bridge across the A12 ahead of schedule.

The temporary bridge was put into place to carry traffic along the B1508 Braiswick Road over the A12 and followed months of planning.

The bridge is moved into position

The mammoth task to put the temporary bridge in place across the A12 on the Colchester Northern bypass meant that the A12 between the A133 Spring Lane interchange west of Colchester and the A120 Crown at Ardleigh interchange to the north-east was due to be shut from Saturday night until this morning.

But Stanway traffic police said the road was reopened by 11am yesterday, reducing the expected delays as weekend traffic took alternative routes into Colchester town centre.

Project manager Brian Pitkin said: "The bridge needs to be strengthened.

"Putting a temporary bridge alongside the existing bridge avoids the need to close the B1508 for lengthy periods while the strengthening work is carried out."

Published Monday, January 27, 2003

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