The first of the central steel beams to connect the north and south sections of the West Link road were put in place yesterday.
These pictures show the 230ft beams, weighing 70 tonnes each, being lifted in pairs by a 330ft crane to form the new River Ness bridge.
Weather pending, the remaining four beams will be placed today and tomorrow. They are then bolted together and tiny gaps between the beams will be welded.
It is the latest stage in the city’s long-awaited £55million West Link project.
In July, works will re-commence in the river to install the scour protection for the bridge piers – to protect from flood flows. This is likely to finish in September.
Work started on the bridge in late February after no fewer than 35 lorries transported the huge crane – capable of lifting 1,000 tonnes- to the Highland capital.
Beams were first lifted into place on the south side of the river before the crane was taken apart and rebuilt on the north side.
All work connected with phase one of the project and the Canal Parks Enhancement works are running to schedule.
By 2020, motorists should be able to travel from the A96 Aberdeen road and A9 Perth route, along the southern distributor road to the A82 Fort William road, via a new bridge over the River Ness and a swing bridge over the Caledonian Canal.
It is hoped the completion of the congestion-busting bypass will take thousands of vehicles out of the city centre.
The project has also opened up land for housing and other economic development at Ness-side and Torvean.
Work on the bridge began shortly after Tulloch Homes unveiled a £250million vision to build 800 homes on land at Ness-side.
According to the masterplan, the homes – 200 of them affordable – will be built over the next 10 years to help tackle the city’s housing shortfall.
A planning application will be lodged with Highland Council in April. Work could start on the first phase of 50 affordable homes by the middle of next year.
