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The UK government has officially opened the £32m A138 Chelmer Viaduct in Chelmsford, Essex with an aim to increase capacity and improve travel experience for drivers.

Slated to be completely serviceable to traffic by 18 April this year, the three-lane road bridge will support and strengthen the local economy.

The 900m long Chelmer Viaduct, which has been completed on time and within budget, has replaced the old two-lane bridge built in the 1930s.

"Building a new viaduct and demolishing the old one demonstrates our commitment to improving the road network and helping to stimulate growth."

Highways England chief highway engineer Catherine Brookes said: "Building a new viaduct and demolishing the old one demonstrates our commitment to improving the road network and helping to stimulate growth.

"The A138 Chelmer Road is a vital transport link and this newly delivered project will reduce congestion and make the route safer."

Commenced last year, the new road bridge project includes the construction of a new viaduct, a footpath, three lanes of carriageway, and a shared footway as well as a cycleway.

It is a major part of the UK government’s £15bn roads investment programme, which has been providing extensive improvements to the country’s roads since the 1970s.

Roads Minister Andrew Jones said: "I am delighted that we have delivered this much needed new bridge with an extra lane which will help cut journey times for hard working people in Chelmsford and deliver economic growth.

"Our £15bn investment in Britain’s roads is all about completing local projects like this which replace ageing infrastructure, and create new capacity at the same time."

The construction of the new viaduct required 104 beams and nearly 1,800 tonnes of steel worth more than £3.6m.

The demolition of the old viaduct is slated to begin in the summer this year, with final completion expected in the winter.

Image: The new A138 Chelmer Viaduct in Chelmsford, Essex. Photo: courtesy of Gov.uk