WORKMEN who slid a 5,000-tonne bridge into place in 16 hours have hailed the success of one of the county’s biggest transport engineering feats.

The enormous engineering project saw 100 workmen slide a 820ft-long section of road 15ft through Saturday night and Sunday morning as they completed the landmark section of the £44m Wolvercote viaduct scheme on the A34 Oxford bypass.

The manoeuvre saw engineers close the A34 between Botley and Pear Tree from 7pm on Saturday to 2.30pm on Sunday as they shifted the southbound bridge deck using giant hydraulic jacks. It now sits in position alongside the northbound carriageway, which was finished last year.

The technique meant the Highways Agency were able to demolish and rebuild the bridge while keeping the road open at almost all times to the 70,000 vehicles that use it every day.

Now the new section of road is in place engineers just need to stitch the two carriageways together.

The agency plans to complete the work by June, when the 40mph speed restrictions will be lifted.

Project manager Ian Johnson said: “We are delighted that the bridge slide went so well. It was a massive job. Our engineers have worked extremely hard throughout this project to keep delays to road users to an absolute minimum, and keep traffic flowing around Oxford.

“With the bridge slide complete, it should only be a matter of weeks before traffic on the A34 is back to normal and the whole project should be finished in good time for this autumn.”

The new structure is expected to last 120 years.