The structure, which has been built in Peterborough, will be installed as a single piece and hoisted into position by a powerful crane the following day at around 11.30am, joining Orton Malborne with Hampton Hargate between junctions 2 and 3.

The work – which will see road diversions in place from around midnight on Friday until at least Sunday morning – comes as the major project to widen and improve the parkway finally nears completion.

Developer O&H Hampton has stumped up £1.35 million for the bridge and associated footpaths, which was stipulated by the original outline planning permission for the Hampton township passed in 1993.

General manager of the company Roger Tallowin said: "I will be delighted to see this bridge in place over the parkway, providing pedestrians and cyclists with a safe link to and from Hampton and the Ortons.

"Citywide, it is also a further spoke in the wheel of connectivity, strengthening people's access to green spaces and Peterborough's target of achieving environment capital status."


Download a PDF showing the diversion

Work to widen the parkway from two to three lanes between junctions 2 and 3 began last summer in a bid to cut congestion on a key route sweeping south of the city to the A1.

Bridge piers have also been strengthened at junctions 2 and 3 and the roundabout at 3 expanded to take three-lane traffic.

Approaches to the roundabout from the Nene Parkway, The Serpentine road, and the east have acquired a third lane as well.

The construction of the footbridge was held back to coincide with the larger parkway project, which is expected to be completed in the next four weeks.

Stretching 38 metres and 3.6 metres wide, the bridge is made of steel beams and a reinforced concrete deck. It has been built by N-Class Fabrication Ltd, based on the Eastern Industrial Estate at Royce Road.

Once in place, the span will be monitored by CCTV linked to the Peterborough control centre and is expected to be opened to the public after the finishing touches are added in early August.

Leader of the city council Cllr John Peach said: "This is an important milestone in a wider road improvement scheme, which will benefit pedestrians, cyclists and motorists for years to come.

"It will address congestion problems on this major route in and out of Peterborough and also unlock development opportunities, while the bridge will strengthen the city's green credentials."

Check the latest roadworks in and around Peterborough