Network Rail is to install a road bridge over the railway at Nansledan in Cornwall.

The new road, known as the Newquay Strategic Route, will connect Nansledan, on the edge of Newquay, to the A392 at the Hendra roundabout and will open in summer 2024.

The 25m-long single-arch bridge is being built over the Newquay-Par branch line by Network Rail and its delivery partner AmcoGiffen on behalf of Cornwall Council.

It is made up of 16 pre-cast concrete units, each weighing 28.6 tonnes. They will be lifted in overnight by two 500-tonne cranes on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October while no trains are running.

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The bridge will include a walkway and vehicle access underneath and be built to allow for potential future railway upgrades.

The Newquay Strategic Route will improve traffic flow east of Newquay and include space for pedestrians and cyclists. It will also form the main route through the commercial heart of Nansledan, a sustainable community close to Newquay that is being developed by the Duchy of Cornwall.

The bridge will also improve safety on the railway by allowing Network Rail to restrict vehicle access at nearby level crossings.

Deborah Elliott, Network Rail lead portfolio manager, said: "We're very excited to be working on this critical piece of the Newquay Strategic Route.

"We developed a single-arch design so the bridge can be installed as efficiently and safely as possible, keeping disruption for rail passengers to a minimum.

"We look forward to the bridge and the new route serving Nansledan and communities around Newquay for decades to come."