The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced that the new entrance to Stratford International Station has been successfully lifted into place ready for the official opening in December for high speed domestic services.

The new 36 metre bridge was lifted, fully glazed, 13 metres above the domestic service railway lines at the station by a 1,000 tonne crane.

The bridge, known as the Eastern Egress, was jointly funded by the ODA, Department for Transport, and High Speed 1. It will form an important part of the interchange between Stratford International, Stratford City and Stratford Regional Station by enabling more direct pedestrian access between the three sites.

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The bridge brings Stratford International and Regional stations 200m closer together, allowing spectators to walk more easily between the two stations when visiting the Olympic Park during the Games. The bridge will remain in legacy, giving visitors to the Olympic Park and Stratford City easy access to either station.

ODA Transport Director Hugh Sumner said: "During the Games, the Javelin service will stop at Stratford International Station from St Pancras International, shuttling 25,000 spectators per hour into the heart of the Olympic Park.

"This bridge is crucial to ensuring that the flow of pedestrians on and off the trains in and out of the Olympic Park is kept as smooth as possible, congestion is kept to a minimum and we reduce the distance that spectators will have to walk."

(CD/JM)