Highways England has released a short video showing giant steel beams being lifted into place over the M1 near Dunstable as part of the £162m A5-M1 link road project.

A Costain Carillion joint venture is building a new 2.8-mile dual carriageway to improve the east-west connection between the A5 and the M1, north of Dunstable. It includes three new junctions, including a new motorway junction, and six new bridges.

During March and April 2016, the contractors lifted in 38 beams, each weighing 100 tonnes, to form a new junction 11A interchange bridge and Highways England project manager Karen Green said: “The A5-M1 Link scheme is progressing well and to plan. Lifting the beams for these two bridges was an important milestone for the A5-M1 Link Road project, which will offer motorists better and safer journeys and help reduce congestion through Dunstable as well as unlock land for new homes and businesses.

“The two new bridges will be opened to traffic closer to the scheme completion in spring 2017.”