MOTORISTS will face more delays on the A1 in North Yorkshire this weekend as a new bridge is lifted into place.

The work, as part of the A1 Leeming to Barton upgrade scheme, will see Fort Bridge at Catterick replaced. The original bridge was demolished last November to make space for an extra lane to be added to the road.

The £380m Highways England project, which began in 2014, will replace the existing dual carriageway with a new three lane motorway which will open next year. The A1 will be closed from 8pm on Friday, October 7 until 6am on Sunday, October 9 in both directions between junction 51 Leeming Bar and Scotch Corner.

A 500 tonne crane will lift giant steel beams weighing 40 tonnes each into place during the closure to create a new bridge at Catterick. Once the new beams have been installed, work can begin to construct the concrete bridge deck.

The bridge links Catterick Garrison in the west to the communities of Catterick and Brompton-on-Swale.

Highways England project manager Tom Howard said: “We are advising people to plan their journeys, using the alternative routes signposted off the A1 closure and leave extra time. We would like to thank drivers for their patience." For updates visit www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a1-leeming-to-barton-improvement.