CONTRACTORS have been working around the clock this weekend to put in place a new railway bridge over the A4440 Southern Link Road on the edge of Worcester.

Although heavy traffic was reported in Worcester on Friday morning, for the most part roads have been quieter than expected, with no significant hold-ups reported at key points such as the Powick roundabout.

The work marks another step closer to Worcestershire County Council's aim to make the road linking the M5 motorway and the Powick roundabout a dual carriageway for its entire length.

More than 22,000 tonnes of soil was due to be moved during the work. More than 4,000 person-hours and 60 different pieces of significant machinery were needed to move the new bridge extension, which was built next to the site where it will be installed.

The 1,500-tonne bridge was lifted and moved into place alongside the existing bridge using a piece of machinery called a self-propelled modular transporter.

This machine is made up of individual modules with manually-controlled wheels that can move the bridge in any direction.

Once in place, the new bridge was fixed to the existing bridge and the area to the south backfilled to make an embankment.

The railway track will then be replaced and tested – this includes 216 new railway sleepers, four 112-metre lengths of track and 1,200 tonnes of new ballast.

The A4440 will remain closed between the Norton and Whittington roundabouts until 6am on Friday, June 1.

The railway line will also be closed until Thursday, May 31.