A 270-TONNE bridge was slid into place over the main Salisbury-Exeter railway line at Skew Bridge in the early hours of Sunday.

The massive bridge was the first of two being installed at Skew Bridge in a £3m project by the Highways Agency to improve safety for both pedestrians and motorists.

The bridges will provide pedestrian and cycle ways either side of the existing 150-year-old road bridge and they have been designed to provide impact and vehicle restraint and safer facilities for all users.

Highways Agency project sponsor Gary Masters said that, due to the impracticalities of constructing the bridges over a live railway line, it had been decided that the best solution was to build the two bridges adjacent to their permanent positions and slide them into place.

The first section was to have been slid into place a fortnight ago but technical difficulties prevented it. On Sunday morning, it was successfully moved into place, using a steel frame over the railway line, and hydraulic jacks were used to slide the bridge into its final position.

Work will now begin on constructing the second bridge, which it is hoped will be slid into position in the spring.

The successful installation of the first bridge is good news, as progress on the project has been plagued by problems.

It was due to take 45 weeks and to be completed by April but is now running about three months behind schedule.