WITH the main span of the Hamworthy railway crossing craned into place, the long-awaited pedestrian crossing moved a step closer.

Residents watched yesterday afternoon as the giant crane deftly swung the steel structure across the tracks to provide a direct and safe route between Blandford Road and Hamworthy Park.

Bournemouth Echo:

Work began in July on the £780,000 project and the ramps are due to be installed today (Thursday). Parapets and lighting will follow and it is on track to open to the public before Christmas.

John Rice, engineering manager, Borough of Poole, said: “This is an exciting stage of construction as we can now see the rail crossing really starting to take shape.

Bournemouth Echo:

"We hope people will watch the operations at close quarters from the public footpath on the Harbour Reach side, north of the railway line. We would urge visitors to keep away from the main site area due to the amount of heavy plant that will be operating.”

Bournemouth Echo: