THE A440 Southern Link Road, closed for a nearly a week for the building of a new railway bridge, has reopened a day-and-a-half ahead of schedule.

The road closed last Thursday between the Whittington and Norton roundabouts to allow for a 1,500 tonne railway bridge extension, which was manoeuvred into place on Sunday.

Crookbarrow Way was originally due to reopen to drivers at 6am on Friday but Worcestershire County Council announced it would be reopening "by 6pm Wednesday  evening" as the project work on the bridge is ahead of schedule.

The work has marked another step closer to the authority's aim to make the road linking the M5 motorway and the Powick roundabout a dual carriageway for its entire length.

The railway line was set to reopen this morning as originally planned.

Councillor Dr Ken Pollock, the authority's cabinet member with responsibility for economy and infrastructure, said: "We're delighted the road is reopening well ahead of schedule.

"It's a testimony to the team who have worked around the clock in the run up to the bridge being moved into place and afterwards that the road is reopening 36 hours earlier than planned."

The bridge on the A4440 was moved into position by a team of 180 engineers who worked around the clock. The installation of the bridge follows months of preparatory works to get the area ready.