First Olympic Park construction bridge lifted into place

The bridge is the first of five construction bridges planned for the Olympic Park which will allow site vehicles to travel safely around the Park reducing the need to use public roads and bridges outside of the site. A 45 metre temporary construction bridge was lifted into place this week to span the River Lea in the north-west of the Park and link the Olympic VeloPark and media centre sites.

The 153 tonne bridge, constructed on site last month as a Bailey Bridge design, was lifted into place using a 1,000 tonne crane. Earthworks are underway to prepare the platforms for the construction of the media centre in 2008 and the VeloPark in early 2009 and the temporary bridge will form a key link between the two sites, allowing construction vehicles to travel between the east and west sides of the ParkThe temporary structure has been designed and built to allow it to be reused on other construction sites after its use in the construction of the Olympic Park.

ODA Director of Infrastructure Simon Wright said:

“With demolition work well underway across the Olympic Park we are already preparing for the start of the ‘big build’ next year by linking the construction sites for key venues with new roads and bridges. The completion of this first construction bridge is an important step towards providing a network of safe and secure routes across the Park, minimising the disruption on public roads outside of the site.”

With the first temporary construction bridge now in place, work is underway on bridges in other parts of the Park. Site clearance work is underway for a temporary bridge further south across the River Lea as a further link between the east and west of the site. Work is also underway in preparation for two bridges into the Olympic Stadium site, one spanning the River Lea and the other spanning City Mill River. Planning work is continuing for a further temporary bridge north of the Stadium site.

The construction of key logistics bridges has been prioritised to assist vehicles involved in the demolition programme which will see more than 250 buildings demolished across the Park over the next year. In total, the bridges and highways project will create more than 30 bridges, temporary and permanent, and 20km of roads in and around the Olympic Park to create a compact and integrated Park and leave an open and accessible area in legacy.

– Ends –

For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700 or visit the website at www.london2012.com.

Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our Work in Progress blog http://blog.london2012.com