The first new vehicle crossing point to be built across the River Thames for 20 years is taking shape as a Costain team spans the river between Walton-on-Thames and Shepperton.

The area has been served for many years by two bridges that were intended to be temporary links. A road bridge was built in the 1950s as a replacement for a war-damaged structure. It now caters purely for pedestrians and cyclists, while another temporary bridge that opened in 1999 carries road traffic.

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The contract for the new bridge was originally awarded by Surrey County Council in 2005 but the project has been the subject of two public inquiries and was put on hold during a government spending review. Costain started detailed design for the final time in 2011, with some advance works getting underway the same year and actual construction starting in January 2012.

The bridge's design is known as a 'thrust arch' – similar to the more familiar 'bowstring arch'. The striking arches have recently been put in place. When complete, the bridge will have a clear span of 90 metres, but this figure rises to 148 metres when taking into account the entire structure and links in to existing roads.

(CD/GK)