Sisk Infrastructure has completed a major milestone at its York Central project for Homes England, with the successful installation of the main beams for a new bridge over the Network Rail East Coast Main Line.

Seven 86.2-metre-long beams were lifted into place to form the new bridge, which will connect Park Street, the previous phase of the scheme completed last year, with Water End and play a key role in improving access into York Central.

The installation took place over the bank holiday weekend and is a key project milestone in the current phase of the project’s major infrastructure works.

York Central is one of the largest city centre regeneration schemes in the UK. Comprising 45 hectares of land directly linked to the city’s railway station and National Railway Museum, it aims to deliver a new city quarter for York featuring more than 2,500 homes and more than a million sq ft of commercial and retail space.

In total, the bridge comprises seven beams, with the inner beams weighing 85 tonnes and the outer beams 130 tonnes. The completed bridge weighs 321 tonnes and spans 76 metres.

Follow on works are now underway to deliver new roads, footpaths and cycleways, supporting safer and more accessible routes into York Central. Additional works on the pedestrian footbridge alongside the existing rail bridge at Water End are due to take place in the coming weeks.

The bridge is expected to open in 2027, once the remaining highway works into the development have been completed.

Alan Rodger, MD, Sisk Infrastructure said: “This is major milestone for our York Central project team. It required meticulous engineering and planning, which included temporary works and digital construction, right through to our supply chain partners, Client, Network Rail and other key stakeholders. Together, we’ve delivered a complex piece of engineering with precision and collaboration over a stretch of the busiest rail network in the UK. We’re excited to carry this momentum into the summer months as we move into the next phase of this transformative development.”

On behalf of the York Central partnership Claire Douglas, leader of City of York Council, added: “Seeing the York Central site evolve over recent months and start to be used by our residents has been amazing. Preparing for the bridge lift has been a huge partnership effort and is a significant engineering feat. I want to thank everyone who has been involved.

“While there is still more work to do before the bridge opens this was a major step forward for the York Central project which in time will transform our city, deliver new homes, high quality jobs and amazing public spaces for the people of York.”