A new bridge being built across the A14 has closed the road to traffic this evening and will again tomorrow night.

The £800,000 project, carried out by Kier May Gureny in partnership with Suffolk County Council, will link two cycle routes in Bury St Edmunds between Thingoe Hill and Northgate Avenue near the railway station.

Works manager Ian Thompson said around 20 construction workers were on site to secure the steel frame in place, which is due to be fitted around 1am.

“It’s a big project but we have completed all the ground work now,” he said.

The A14 was closed between junctions 42 and 43 from around 8pm this evening until 6am tomorrow with diversions in place. West bound traffic will go through Bury, while motorists travelling east are to use the B1106 through Fornham All Saints. It will close for the same period of time again tomorrow.

Rebecca Miller, communications manager for the project, said it was looking “quite spectacular” as cranes manoeuvred the bridge into place and crowds gathered to watch.

“I think it’s been a really important project,” she said.

“Money has been provided by central government and together with Suffolk County Council we’ve managed to keep that money to spend locally.

“We’ve also been very careful to work with local businesses and residents to provide them with a solution that works for them.

“This is all about linking communities together.”

The cycle route is expected to open in time for Easter after further work is carried out to link the bridge with its two adjoining cycle paths.