Bridge beam lifts which will see the Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme (FARRRS) link road cross the East Coast Mainline commenced this weekend.

A 1,000 tonne crane carried out the night time lifts which saw the first two pairs of steel beams weighing over 80 tonnes carefully positioned onto the supporting walls on either side of the track.

Next weekend, Doncaster Council and the main contractor Carillion will lift the final pair of beams into place to form the 42m span bridge. Track possessions from Network Rail are enabling these works to take place.

Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “This important project is a major engineering feat which will help to deliver new jobs and growth in Doncaster. Building work continues to motor along at pace with the link road scheme on course to open early next year.

“The FARRRS link road is the catalyst for huge levels of private sector investment in Doncaster in the shape of the £400 million iPort development and 1,200 new homes on the former Rossington Colliery site. It will also help to increase passenger numbers and business growth at the airport.”

The first phase of £56 million FARRRS link is creating a three mile route from junction 3 of the M18 to Parrott’s Corner on the A638 south of Doncaster and is on track to be complete and open in early 2016.

The East Coast Mainline bridge is the second bridge to carry the link road over railway lines after 27 pre-cast concrete beams were used during the completion of the bridge over the Brancliffe to Kirk Sandall (BKS) railway line in the autumn last year.

The bridge over the River Torne connecting FARRRS to the residential development and to Rossington is already complete and work is also progressing well on the two new bridges where FARRRS crosses the River Torne and the Mother Drain at Parrott’s Corner.

Surveys, design work and business case preparation for the second phase is underway. This will complete the link to Doncaster Sheffield Airport delivering further economic and transport benefits for the area. Subject to approval this phase of works will start shortly after the first phase is completed.

The first phase of FARRRS received financial assistance from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, backing from private sector partners Harworth Estates, the Peel Group and Verdion and is supported regionally by the Growing Places Fund and the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership. Doncaster Council’s main contractor for the works is Carillion and the designer is Mott MacDonald.

For more information on FARRRS, go to: www.doncaster.gov.uk/FARRRS