A1(M) Peterborough to Blyth Upgrade

The A1 is a north-south trunk route of strategic importance and in some ways iconic, as it is one of the UK’s longest highways. Linking London with Edinburgh via the East Midlands and the North East of England, the route is for much of its length a motorway - A1(M) – grade highway.

However, one of the longer stretches of dual carriageway, linking the two A1(M) sections at Peterborough in the south and Blyth in the north is currently being upgraded. According to the Highways Agency, this 110km-long section, although of satisfactory standard, suffers from severe localized congestion at six roundabouts, so they are now being replaced with grade separated junctions incorporating steel bridges.

Interestingly at this location an innovative and time-saving procedure has been used for bridge construction. In order to reduce disruption and speed up the works process, the new bridge was fabricated on an adjacent site, at the same time as the abutments were being built. Once both were finished the bridge deck was transported as one large structure, over a distance of 200m, and jacked into its final position.