A HUGE 70-tonne footbridge is being lifted into place this-morning across the Regent’s Canal in East London. A giant crane is lowering the structure in four sections from 10am

A HUGE 70-tonne footbridge is being lifted into place this-morning (Thursday) across the Regent's Canal in East London.

A giant crane is lowering the structure in four sections from 10am.

The footbridge will link two 'cut off' neighbourhoods in Bethnal Green, either side of the canal, connecting Meath Gardens off the Roman Road with Mile End Park and the clump of turnings sandwiched between the busy A1205 Grove Road and the overhead main-line railway into London's Liverpool Street station.

CONVOY

The bridge deck is arriving by road in a heavy goods convoy from the Midlands before the 500-tonne crane lifts the sections into place, each weighing 24 tonnes, 23 tonnes, 14 tonnes and four tonnes.

Ramps are being added later as well as landscaping and pedestrian and cycle paths, expected to be open to the public in October.

The �2 million project includes �300,000 from the Big Lottery Fund and the rest from Sustrans charity which campaigns to overcome barriers such as busy roads, railways or rivers that divide communities.