Viaduct over East Coast Main Line in place

As I suspected, the section of viaduct over the main line was lifted in to place during the night.  I went down at 7am and it was all over by then. There were just a few Network Rail engineers checking the overheads.  You have to take your hat off to Hochtief for the efficient way it was done.  It looks like it fitted perfectly and now appears like it was always there!

 View from Icknield Way footbridge

 Close-up from same location

 Side view from the west

You can see the curve from this angle.

I then took the opportunity to take the footpath that follows the Cambridge line as far as the future junction with the new line.   It was incredibly overgrown because it is not a through path at the moment.  Presumably it will be diverted to pass under the new line via the farmer's accommodation bridge, shown under construction in the next picture.

 A wonderful field of poppies has sprung up in the uncultivated field.  At the public consulation meeting, there was talk that passive provision for a new access road from Stotfold Road to the industrial area might be included.  However judging from the size of this bridge that's not going to happen.

 Embankment construction has started at the point where the two lines will meet.

 A better view of the chalk removal.  A new cliff can be seen developing in the centre

And finally, turning round from the same spot for reference purposes, in the distance a shot of the crane used to lift in the viaduct.