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Bridge pushed into place millimetres per minute

Harry Parkhillin Grantham
BBC a collage of two images side by side from a similar angle showing the bridge. the first has lots of visible pillars of supports, the second has a bridge baseplate resting on many of themBBC
Progress has been made on the bridge push despite it appearing stationary (pictured in 2025 left, and 25 June 2026 right)

A 2,500-tonne bridge is being slowly shunted into place over the East Coast Mainline as part of a complex road-building project.

The 961ft-long (293m) bridge, on the outskirts of Grantham, is being pushed at a rate of just a few millimetres per minute.

The project was delayed in 2025 after a design error led to concerns strong winds could cause it to move out of alignment during the move.

"Although progress may appear slow, moving only a few millimetres each minute, this level of precision is essential to ensure the bridge remains perfectly aligned throughout the operation," Sam Edwards, head of highways infrastructure for Lincolnshire County Council, said.

a man with short brown hair wearing a light purple shirt and spotty mauve tie stands in front of metal fencing in front of iron girders forming the base of a bridge
Sam Edwards is the head of Highways Infrastructure at Lincolnshire County Council

Edwards said a number of technical instruments "monitor several points on the bridge all at the same time every second."

"We're monitoring that at all times throughout, so if we notice any movement we can stop and put strengtheners in but I'm really happy to say we've had nothing untoward, so it's performing exactly as we expected."

Work on the bridge push began in March 2026, and it is now a third of the way over the valley, which includes the River Witham and railway line.

The bridge should be in place in autumn 2026, with the Grantham Southern Relief Road ready to drive on by 2028.

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