A MASSIVE bridge is the latest addition to the changing face of Shoreditch as a result of work to extend the East London line. The huge, 350-tonne structure was lowered into position over Shoreditch High Street last Saturday morning...

A MASSIVE bridge is the latest addition to the changing face of Shoreditch as a result of work to extend the East London line.

The huge, 350-tonne structure was lowered into position over Shoreditch High Street on Saturday morning.

Britain's biggest mobile crane was employed to gently lower the 35-metre-long, bow-string bridge into place

The £1 billion East London line extension will connect Hackney to the Underground network for the first time.

Four stations are set to be built in Hackney - at Dalston Junction, Haggerston, Hoxton and Shoreditch High Street.

The Shoreditch station on the site of the old Bishopsgate goodsyard and will be an average of 16 metres tall from ground level.

Work on the foundations has been completed.

Plans show the station will be built initially with a temporary concrete tunnel structure over the tracks.

The windowless tunnel will protect the station while further development takes place on surrounding land. The eventual station will be open air.

A spokesman for Transport for London said: "The Shoreditch High Street station development has been designed to minimise disruption and ensure the safety of passengers who will use the East London Railway when it opens in 2010."

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