A 580-tonne bridge has been lifted into place over the M60 in the latest stage of construction of a new link connecting Manchester International Airport with a branch of the Metrolink Manchester South line.
The superstructure is one of two bridges on the new tram line currently under construction.
The work, which was scheduled to take place during a 24-hour closure over the weekend of part of the M60, was finished eight hours early.
Bryan Diggins, MPT project director, said: “It’s projects like this that really bring home the excitement of civil engineering.
“After months of preparation, the bridge move went like clockwork, and we were delighted to release the motorway back to road users.”
The M56 will be closed between Junctions 2 and 5 from 10pm on Saturday, November 24 to 10pm the following day, while the second bridge is installed.
