The bridge was put into position at the junction with the B6403 High Dyke and Bridge End in a similar operation to the first successful bridge lift in May at the Colsterworth roundabout.

The operation was a success, with the southbound carriageway re-opened shortly after 11am on Sunday and the northbound carriageway opened less than an hour later.

Contractors carried out the work as part of the A1 Peterborough to Blyth Junction Improvement Scheme.

Highways Agency project leader Bill Birkett said: "The first bridge lift in May was very successful. Everything ran according to plan, to the point that we were able to open the A1 three hours ahead of schedule. We strived to do this again in order to minimise disruption."

The project also includes the removal of the old railway bridge over the A1.

This is currently on the side of the old Great North Road at Bridge End waiting to be dismantled.

Once the old bridge was down and while the road was still closed the abutments from the old bridge were dismantled, avoiding the need to close the A1 for a third time.

Materials from the bridge will be re-used on site where possible.

• WATCHING the old railway bridge over the A1 being dismantled on Sunday was Bill Jackson, who helped build it 47 years ago.
  
  Mr Jackson, who lives in Woolsthorpe by Colsterworth, helped build the bridge when the A1 at Colsterworth was widened to a dual carriageway and the original bridge connecting Colsterworth Mines and and the main line needed to be replaced.
  
  He said: "The steel bridge was delivered in sections by Pickfords and we put it together with hot rivets. We didn't have lasers in those days but it's lasted all these years, so I think we did a good job."
  
  
  Information on the Colsterworth improvements can be found by clicking here.
  
  To see how we covered the story of the first bridge being lifted into place click here.
  
  E-mail your news and views to comment@granthamjournal.co.uk
  
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