Great Yarmouth £121m third crossing span raised into air

The bascule leaf has been raised as part of a process to allow shipping and boats to pass under the town's latest addition.

It is hoped the other leaf on the eastern side of the River Yare will be lifted later today.

The bridge sections, each weighing about 700 tonnes, were placed on Tuesday and Wednesday by a giant Dutch crane.

That crane is now being used to raise both sections into a temporary up position.

The leaf section was lifted by a giant crane Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

A 500-tonne concrete pour to create the counterbalance for the eastern leaf was completed through Tuesday night and a further 500 tonnes of concrete will also be poured into the western bascule chamber.

The bridge section dominates the skyline Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

However this will not take place until after the river reopens as the 72-hour window for the lifting operation only allowed enough time for one concrete pour to set.

It will be about three weeks before the hydraulic systems are installed.

The second section was lifted into place on Wednesday (Image: Anthony Carroll)

Hundreds of people had watched the two sections eased slowly into place from vantage points on each side of the River Yare.

The first section of the bridge was lifted into place on Tuesday (Image: Sonya Duncan)