A new footbridge over Newcastle's Central Motorway has been lowered into place - leaving tailbacks across the city over the past two days.
The Northumbria University foot and cycle bridge, linking its city centre campus with its new Campus East, is being installed over the Bank Holiday weekend by one of the biggest cranes in the country - weighing in at more than 800 tonnes.
But the process has closed the Central Motorway for the past two days, and will again today, as workmen complete the landmark project.
The road is closed between the Jesmond Road turnoff and the New Bridge Street exit, with traffic diverted through Shieldfield.
It has been timed by council bosses for what is usually a more quiet time on the roads, but during busy periods on Saturday it delayed journeys across Tyneside by up to half an hour.
The bridge is six metres wide and spans 95 metres across Newcastle's Central Motorway and the Metro line.
Its 80 tonne bridge deck and its mast support were placed into position on Saturday, along with the cable stays.
It forms part of a £136m programme of investment at Northumbria, including the new Campus East building on the eastern side of the motorway.
Plans for the existing campus site include a new state-of-the-art sports complex and a new access road from Sandyford Road, taking most university traffic away from the city centre.
One driver said his journey from Low Fell in Gateshead to Jesmond at lunchtime on Saturday took around 45 minutes, instead of the usual 15.
He said: "It was no problem getting across the Tyne Bridge but after I came off at Manors the traffic was just crawling along. Even when I came back over the Redheugh later on it still took three quarters of an hour."
Last week Northumbria University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kel Fidler, said: "We appreciate that the installation will cause disruption for motorists as Newcastle's Central Motorway is partially closed to enable our contractors to complete this delicate operation but I'm sure people will realise this bridge represents a significant boost to the city and the people of Newcastle.
"The bridge forms an important part of the total campus development, which at £136 million, is the university's largest ever investment programme, making a major contribution to the city's growth and regeneration."
