an engineering marvel

So, today I went for a stroll at lunchtime to get some fresh air, to enjoy the beautiful weather and to look more closely at the other* engineering marvel that's occurring in the vicinity.

This is the new pair of bridges in Selly Oak. There used to be an embankment underneath both the railway line and the canal (the bit that I'm standing on to take the photo), but they've driven the columns down into the earth and placed new bridge bits on top.

To do the canal they diverted it for a few months into a new channel, built the new aquaduct and re-diverted the water back. To do the railway, they put the new bridge bit in place just to the side of the old bit, and shifted it over in a matter of hours over the Christmas closedown. And since then they've been digging out the underneath of both bridges to get down to what will be the level of the road. It's fascinating, honestly.

And the best bit is that the bridges are named after the Ariel motorbike factory, which used to be situated close by, and that my great grandfather was MD of. The bridges are almost a family heirloom! Well, ok that's stretching it a bit, but I should at least be allowed to drive my sheep over them. Or chickens.

*the other engineering marvel has been better blipped by m'colleague here