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Collapsed M20 bridge has been demolished

Contractors are busy removing 400 tonnes of rubble from the damaged M20 footbridge which was fully demolished yesterday.

Highways England says several tipper trucks are being used to clear away the concrete and reinforced steel remains. It hopes most of the debris can be recycled.

Meanwhile the motorway remains closed between Junctions 2 (Wrotham) and 4 (Leybourne).

The collapsed footbridge has now been demolished by specialist teams. Picture John Westhrop
The collapsed footbridge has now been demolished by specialist teams. Picture John Westhrop

The agency says work is proceeding well and it is expecting to re-open the motorway as planned at 6am on Monday.

Specialist engineers moved onto the motorway early yesterday morning and used heavy equipment to crunch away at the section standing over one side of the carriageway.

The bridge collapsed a week ago after a lorry carrying a digger struck the pedestrian walkway, sending a large section of it thundering to the ground.

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The bridge is down. Picture by contractors C&D London
The bridge is down. Picture by contractors C&D London
How the partly-collapsed bridge looked after last Saturday's accident Picture: Natasha Najm
How the partly-collapsed bridge looked after last Saturday's accident Picture: Natasha Najm

Our pictures show the bridge stump has already been demolished by 8am on Saturday morning.

C&D London, the firm handling the demolition said it was eight hours ahead of schedule and the last bit of the bridge was brought down around 1pm yesterday.

Today drivers are getting to grips with a closure of the M20 to enable the work to take place. The motorway is currently shut between junctions 2 for Wrotham and Sevenoaks and Junction 4 for Leybourne.

The scene on the M20 today, London-bound as work takes place to demolish the collapsed bridge. Picture John Westhrop
The scene on the M20 today, London-bound as work takes place to demolish the collapsed bridge. Picture John Westhrop
Last Saturday's accident. Picture from NPAS Redhill
Last Saturday's accident. Picture from NPAS Redhill

A network of diversions have been put in place.

Several motorists have questioned whether the M20 could re-open sooner.

But a Highways England spokesman told kentonline there is still complex work to be done to remove all traces of the bridge and deal with the rubble.

The spokesman added: "We are making good progress and everything is going to plan. The remaining part of the bridge has now been removed and it has been chopped into pieces.

"The work has moved on to get rid of the tonnes of rubble, so we remain focused on re-opening the M20 by 6am on Monday."

Drivers on the M25 were stopped on Friday night just before junction 5 so Highways England could safely start the closures and make sure no cars were on the carriageways affected.

VIDEO: Watch the moment the bridge was demolished...

On Saturday motorists found problems in other parts of Kent - the roundabout linking the M20 and M2 at Blue Bell Hill saw queuing traffic earlier this morning.

Kent County Council reported delays on the M20 towards London between junction 5 (Aylesford) and junction 4 (Leybourne) which is where drivers need to come off.

It advised using the A249 at junction 7, the A229 (junction 6) and the A228 (junction 4) to reach the M2.

At Wrotham Heath on the A20 London Road motorists were warned to expect delays between the A228 Ashton Way and M26 J2a.

Congestion on roads connecting to the A20 at East Malling after the motorway closure came into force. Picture: John Westhrop
Congestion on roads connecting to the A20 at East Malling after the motorway closure came into force. Picture: John Westhrop

The A20 London Road in Ditton suffered with slow moving traffic in both directions between the M20 junction 4 and junction 5.

There was also congestion on the M25, clockwise, between junctions 4-5.

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