Steel beams have been winched across the River Soar in Leicestershire, marking the next stage of a bridge rebuilding project.

The 76m-long beams are part of Leicestershire County Council’s £19.5 million Zouch Bridge replacement project, which will construct a new crossing over the A6006.

The bridge will connect Hathern and Zouch on the Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire border, and it is being built since the current crossing is crumbling.

Charles Whitford, cabinet member for highways and transport at Leicestershire County Council, stated that the six beams, each weighing 80 tonnes, were “essentially carefully shunted” into their proper positions.

“It’s a complex procedure that requires a lot of precision and care,” the surgeon said.

“Because of the above wires, the steels cannot simply be craned in; instead, they must be launched and carefully shoved into position.

“The A6006 is a key route that includes links to the airport and Freeport developments, so we have done our best to keep disruption to a minimum and build the new bridge alongside the old one, rather than in the same place.”