The Wakefield Western Relief Road project will link the A642 Aberford Road in the north to the A638 Doncaster Road in the south.

It will also pave the way for a massive urban expansion plan to build 2,500 new homes.

The proposed road also has to cross the Wakefield Kirkgate to Normanton railway line and the River Calder.

The railway is on a large embankment and it is proposed that the road will cross underneath the line.

The design of the bridge is underway and it is intended to utilise a Network Rail type E bridge supported on piles in each corner.

It is planned to construct the deck off line and to position it during a 54 hr line closure during Christmas 2015.

The 60m-long river bridge will be of integral composite construction (steel beams with concrete deck).

While it is planned to award the works as a single contract for all road and bridge works, the full funding has not yet been agreed.

It may therefore be necessary to delay building the river bridge and the road until after the construction of the rail bridge.

The track possession for the placing of the railway bridge is booked for Christmas 2015, and is 54 hrs.

Wakefield Council hopes to start construction works next April.

All documents are available for download from the YORtender portal contract reference 9LGC-YGFKEY.