London 2012 Olympic bridge lifted into place

A striking new bridge that will provide an essential new link into the London 2012 Olympic Park for local residents in Hackney and Waltham Forest UK has been lifted into place. The bridge spans across Ruckholt Road, creating a new link between Hackney East Marsh and the Eton Manor site in the north of the Olympic Park. During the 2012 Games, the new bridge will be the main route into the Olympic Park for spectators arriving at the Northern Spectator Mall. After the Games, the bridge will become an essential new link for local residents, providing access into the new sports and leisure facilities in Eton Manor and the wider Olympic Park site. One of the largest cranes in Europe was used this weekend to lift the 200 tonne permanent bridge structure into place across Ruckholt Road. The permanent bridge is 42 m long, 6 m wide and has a distinct arched design. An adjacent temporary bridge structure was also lifted into place that will accommodate the extra spectator numbers during the Games and which will then be removed afterwards, leaving the permanent legacy bridge in place.