• One of Europe’s largest crane installs Monier Road bridge overnight as part of infrastructure works to improve local connections
• New Monier Road bridge to connect Fish Island with Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
• Download images here

A new bridge connecting the communities of Fish Island and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has been installed. Fully due to open in early 2021, the bridge will eventually become a bus, cycle and pedestrian access to the new residential community of Sweetwater and beyond.

The 400-tonne structure had been pre-assembled alongside the canal crossing. It was then carefully lowered into place overnight by one of Europe’s largest cranes and a team of experts from Balfour Beatty, while the Lee Navigation was temporarily closed.

Its installation marks another major milestone in the LLDC masterplan for new homes, transport infrastructure and landscaping enhancements on the Park. It has been completed in advance of the new homes currently being built at East Wick + Sweetwater, a major new residential community that will provide more than 1,800 new homes alongside schools, nurseries and community spaces to the area.

Paul Brickell, Executive Director of Regeneration and Community Partnerships at the London Legacy Development Corporation, said:

“Monier Road Bridge will make it easier for local residents to get to the facilities being created on the Park like schools, health centres and jobs as well as the amazing parkland and venues. The bridge will help us to deliver the Mayor’s Healthy Streets policies by encouraging walking and cycling and creating new routes for public transport serving residents on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as well as Hackney Wick and Fish Island.”

Balfour Beatty Contracts Manager, Nigel Loraine, said: “Today marks an important moment as our team has safely installed the 400-tonne Monier Road Bridge. Through close collaboration with London Legacy Development Corporation, we’ve successfully enhanced the connection network from neighboring areas to  Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”