A major project which will see the A13 between Orsett and Stanford-le-Hope widened from two to three lanes and four bridges replaced has reached a key milestone.

The first bridge has been demolished under the scheme, along with street lighting column removal and BT communication cable installation.

Saffron Gardens Bridge linked a major farm to the A1013 Stanford Road, either side of the A13. An alternative access road was upgraded before the works to allow the farm to continue to operate as normal throughout the entire duration of the project.

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Kier used protective debris mats to protect the existing road surface underneath the bridge, with four demolition machines used to demolish the structure itself, as well as water cannons to control the spread of dust across the site and into public areas.

Live vibration monitoring was also in place to ensure that the demolition did not adversely affect the nearby gas pipeline.

At Saffron Gardens Farm the replacement bridge has been designed to accommodate larger agricultural machinery which is prevalent in modern farming, with the new bridge due to be installed in 2020.

Steve Mack, A13 Project Director at Kier, said: "Demolishing Saffron Gardens Bridge was a major milestone for our project and I would like to thank the team for their incredible efforts in planning and delivering this high-profile activity safely and successfully."

The three other new bridges will be installed before the existing bridges are demolished to ensure that roads and communities remain connected at all times.