This was the scene as steel girders for the replacement Old Laxey Bridge were unloaded at the village’s harbour.
Some 21 tonnes of steel was shipped to this island today (Thursday).
It was transported from Belfast on Mezeron’s Silver River, arriving in Laxey harbour at just after 9am.
The concrete abutments for the new bridge have already been constructed – but there’s still a lot of work to do before the two sides of the village are reunited again.
The first girders were due to be craned into position this afternoon.
Engineers are confident that the replacement bridge will be ready in time for TT – at least on a temporary basis.
Aidan McCusker, asset engineering manager at the Department of Infrastructure, said the steel deck should be completed by Sunday and work on the in situ concrete deck will begin on Monday.
He said: ‘It is proposed to have a temporary surface ready to receive traffic by the commencement of the TT Festival. The road would be closed on completion of the TT Festival to allow the bridge works to be completed.’
The old bridge was irreparably damaged in December when flash flooding caused part of the structure to collapse – plunging a double decker bus into the river below.
While many people wanted the option of a new arched bridge, the department’s engineers opted for a flat bridge which will reduce the likelihood of any future flood damage by allowing the river to flow unimpeded out to sea.