New bridge links Hackney to Olympic Park

Another piece of the Olympics jigsaw in place

A new bridge linking Hackney residents to the Olympic Park was lifted into place over the weekend.

One of the largest cranes in Europe was used to put the 200 tonne permanent bridge across the A106 Ruckholt Road on Saturday (November 20), connecting Hackney’s East Marsh to Eton Manor.

It will open at the start of the 2012 Games.

Spectators will use the crossing as a main route into the Olympic Park arriving at the Northern Spectator Mall.

After the Games, Hackney residents will cross the 42m long, 6m wide bridge to get to the new sports and leisure facilities in Eton Manor - including tennis courts, and five-a-side football pitches - and the wider Olympic Park site.

A temporary bridge was also placed next to the permanent bridge to cater for the extra spectators during the Games.

Improvement works took place as part of a wider project for better roads, cycle routes and pedestrian access around Ruckholt Road, Eastway and Homerton Road.

The Olympic Delivery Authority’s director of infrastructure Simon Wright said: “Lifting in the new Ruckholt Road bridge was a huge engineering challenge and a significant achievement that paves the way for another important new link into the Olympic Park.

“We thank local residents for their patience while we carried out these essential works.”

The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority will own and manage the sports facilities in Eton Manor after the 2012 Games.