VIDEO: New bridge for London 2012 rowing and canoe venue

A new bridge has been lifted into place at the Eton College Rowing Centre at Dorney Lake near Windsor ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The placement of the new bridge, which will provide increased access to the finish line area of the venue and improved areas for athletes to warm-up, keeps plans for "an enhanced rowing and canoe sprint facility" on track, according to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).

Construction of the enhanced venue started in September 2009 with the demolition and removal of the original finish line area bridge and ground works to widen the entrance to the return lane. With the widened entrance in place, the new 50-m span bridge, weighing 250 tonnes, was lifted into place using a 1200 tonne capacity crane.

Work currently underway at the site includes construction of a cut-through between the competition lake and the return lane with a new bridge over the cut-through, and the upgrade of the existing gravel/stone access road up to the competition venue for use during the Games.

The Eton Dorney enhancement works, which are being carried out by Morrison Construction, are expected to be complete later this year.