Work takes place on A41 Expressway footbridge, West Bromwich

Work has taken place to lower a new footbridge into place over West Bromwich's £25 million A41 Expressway, as these pictures show.

The two massive cranes were being used to lower the footbridge into place in three sections with work starting yesterday. It was due to be completed today.

It is the latest part of the massive improvement and underpass work that is taking place on the dual carriageway that runs from Junction 1 of the M5 to West Bromwich.

Borough neighbourhoods boss, Councillor Ian Jones, said: "This is part of the jigsaw which is being put in place to make sure the infrastructure around the site is all appropriately built.

It is pleasing that another part of the jigsaw is in place."

The massive project is taking place beneath the roundabout where the A41 Expressway meets All Saints Way. It is scheduled to open in late summer.

The scheme aims to cut congestion in the town at the roundabout, next to West Bromwich fire station, which is one of the Sandwell's busiest junctions, carrying 63,000 vehicles a day.

Work has been funded by £22.2 million from the Department of Transport while supermarket giant Tesco, which is building a multi-million store in the town centre, is contributing £2.2 million.

The project is a major part of the regeneration of West Bromwich and will improve the gateway into the town centre.

It lies near the ongoing scheme to build the new £200million Tesco development.

The New Square retail and leisure quarter which is scheduled to open next spring is anchored by the 139,000 sq ft Tesco store, includes a 36,000 sq ft eight-screen Odeon cinema and restaurant space, with 1,900 car parking spaces. It will create about 2,000 new jobs.

Major retailers who have been confirmed include Primark, Next, Arcadia, JD Sports and Bank, while Nandos and Prezzo are the first restaurants to have signed up to the scheme.