Steel bridge links Crossrail and ExCeL

A 34m-long steel box girder bridge has been installed as part of the construction of a new Crossrail station at Custom House, east London, linking the station with the ExCeL exhibition centre.

Bourne Steel, the steelwork contractor for the project, delivered the structure to site under police escort because of its length. With a combined weight of 90t, it was then lifted into place in three sections.

Project Manager for Custom House Mujahid Khalid said: “Installing this huge bridge was a vital part of our construction programme. The new station is rapidly taking shape – we expect the outline structure to be completed by the beginning of next year, after which the process of fitting out the station will begin in earnest.”

When it opens in 2018 Crossrail will serve 40 stations and run more than 100km from Reading and Heathrow in the west, through 21km of tunnels below central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.