The bridge lifted into place is the first of more than 30 new bridges to be built in the Olympic Park to create new connections across the site and leave an open and accessible public park in legacy.
A 250-tonne crane was used to lift three 55-metre-long steel beams into place to form the main deck of the bridge. The bridge is in the north of the Olympic Park, spanning across the River Lea to form an essential east–west link across the site.
The bridge will initially be used by site vehicles during the construction phase of the project, and then during the Games and in legacy it will form part of the main loop road around the Olympic Park to provide an essential link around the site for pedestrians and vehicles.
The installation of the first permanent new bridge in the Olympic Park follows news that the last major bridge contract in the Structures, Bridges and Highways project has now been awarded. Lagan Construction has been awarded the contract to construct a major footbridge in the centre of the Olympic Park, spanning approximately 30m over the River Lea at the focal point between the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre.
The footbridge has been designed by Heneghan Peng Architects, with Adams Kara Taylor Engineers, and features a single bridge structure with temporary elements in Games time that is transformed in legacy to leave two footbridges linked by a central blade-like walkway, linking the river tow paths and the upper concourse in the Olympic Park. Construction work will start next year.
ODA Director of Infrastructure and Utilities Simon Wright said: 'Lifting the first permanent new bridge into place and awarding the last major bridge construction contract are significant moments and keep us firmly on track as we create the backbone of the Olympic Park and a platform for future development.
'Building new bridges and roads is a crucial element across the life of the project, from creating new links across the site for construction activity, to delivering an open and accessible Park during the Games, and forming new links between local communities in legacy.'
Work is also well underway on the foundations of other permanent new bridges including a bridge in the centre of the Olympic Park that will span over Carpenters Road to create an essential link for construction traffic between the north and south of the site. The bridge will then become an important part of the central pedestrian concourse through the middle of the Olympic Park in Games time and legacy.
The site of the Olympic Park is made up of fragmented pockets of land, and in the past has suffered from poor connections between local communities. The structures, bridges and highways project is the single biggest construction project the ODA is delivering and will see more than 30 bridges and 20km of roads built in and around the Olympic Park to create new connections across the site.
Notes to editors:
1. A video and images of the first permanent new bridge being lifted into place can be downloaded
2. Images of the Central Park bridge, designed by Heneghan Peng Architects with Adams Kara Taylor Engineers, and to be built by Lagan Construction can also be downloaded
3. The contracts awarded for the major packages of structures, bridges and highways work are:
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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700.
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- Olympic Park North Civils, Roads and Bridges Skanska Construction Limited;
- Olympic Park South Civils, Roads and Bridges Edmund Nuttall Limited;
- Rail Over-Bridges Balfour Beatty Group Limited;
- Main Stadium Area Bridges Balfour Beatty Group Limited;
- Wetland Area Bridges Edmund Nuttall Limited;
- Central Park Bridge Lagan Construction