New 240-tonne bridge installed over the M54
A new 240-tonne bridge has been installed on the M54 as part of a major operation which saw seven miles of the motorway closed overnight.
The 45-metre bridge forms part of the i54 development, where Jaguar Land Rover is building a £355 million engine plant and creating 750 jobs. Drivers had to take 14-mile diversions from 8pm on Saturday.
The M54 was closed in both directions between junction 2 at Coven Heath and junction 3 near Albrighton.
Bosses said everything had gone to plan during the operation, which comes three months after a 50-tonne skeleton of the bridge arrived at the i54 business park, in Fordhouses, where it was pieced together.
Scroll down for video of the bridge being installed
Just after 11.30pm on Saturday crews began lifting the bridge over the floodlit motorway carriageway, which was reopened at 10am on Sunday.
Councillor Mike Maryon, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "Projects likes these are the 'nuts and bolts' of the i54 South Staffordshire scheme.
"Our engineers worked through the night to move the bridge into place and I am delighted that everything went to plan."
Diversions took motorists on the A449 to Gailey, the A5 and then the A41 to get back to junction 3.
The bridge will replace an existing bridge in Middle Lane. It will be used for access to wastewater treatment works and as a footpath and bridleway, as well as for construction traffic over the next few months.
The bridge will be open to the public next year.
i54 South Staffordshire is a joint venture between Staffordshire County Council, Wolverhampton City Council and South Staffordshire Council.
It has been named as an enterprise zone along with four other areas nearby – Gateway Site; vacant land at Wolverhampton Business Park; Lupus and land to the rear of HS Marstons.
Video supplied by sister paper Express & Star
