New construction links near completion ahead of Olympic Park ‘Big Build’

Construction bridges and temporary roads within the Olympic Park will play a key role in minimising disruption to public roads and bridges. Two temporary bridges have already been installed to provide links into the Olympic Stadium site for construction vehicles, with a third bridge in place in the north-west of the site. A fourth 55 metre-long temporary bridge has now been lifted into place in the west of the Park, spanning over the River Lea to link the VeloPark and media centre sites.

Work is also well underway to install a temporary road network across the Olympic Park site to provide safe and secure routes for construction vehicles. 1km of temporary new roads have been constructed, using 5,000 tonnes of material created during the demolition of buildings on site. The roads allow construction vehicles to travel between the east and west sides of the site and down the central ‘spine’ of the Park into the Olympic Stadium site without the need to use public roads and bridges.

ODA Director of Infrastructure Simon Wright said: 'With demolition completed on two-thirds of the Olympic Park, we are already preparing for the start of the ‘big build’ in the summer by putting roads and bridges in place to link the construction sites for key venues. The acceleration of work on temporary roads and bridges is an important step towards providing a network of safe and secure routes across the Park while minimising disruption to public roads and bridges.'

Along with the temporary infrastructure being installed for construction activity on site, the ODA will build more than 30 permanent bridges and 20km of permanent roads in and around the Olympic Park to create an open and accessible area in Games time and legacy. Piling works started this week on the first permanent bridge which will be built in the west of the Park. The bridge will span over the primary loop road to be constructed on site, creating an important north–south link for visitors to the Park in Games time and legacy. Piling works on the bridge will be completed by the summer, allowing work to install the bridge structure to start towards the end of the year.

The acceleration of work on temporary roads and bridges keeps the ODA on track to meet another of its ‘Milestones to Beijing’ – ten targets to be achieved by the time of the Beijing Games this year. Milestone 3 states that the main temporary roads and bridges will have been built, giving access to a safe and secure construction site for the ‘big build’.

Notes to Editors:

Images of temporary roads and bridges in the Olympic Park are available from the ODA Press Office on 020 3 2012 709

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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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