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The pieces of a "first-of-its-kind" modular bridge are being connected up as work continues to improve a key city artery.
The new bridge is part of a redesign of the A11/A47 Thickthorn junction, near Norwich, with the sections built elsewhere and transported to the site.
This includes six 100-tonne beams measuring 38 metres long, which were built in Ireland and transferred across the Irish Sea to Liverpool, then across the country via road to Norfolk.
National Highways senior project manager Syed Abbas described the build as a "trailblazing" moment for his team, but drivers would face road closures during its installation.
"This is a first-of-its-kind, I'm proud to say, for all of the strategic National Highways network," he added.
The sections of the bridge, connecting Cantley Lane South with Norwich Road in Hethersett, are being connected up with the help of engineering firm Skansa.
A specialist crane, capable of lifting up to 750 tonnes, will begin to move the beams into place on top of the abutments on Friday and road closures will be required from 20:00 BST through to 06:00 on Monday.
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Dan Hutchings, project director for Skansa, said: "The construction of the bridge, from start to finish, is about four months, which is significantly quicker than a traditional build on site."
Ongoing maintenance costs are also reduced as it does not have bearings, he said.
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Work continues on other aspects of the £200m project, which will also include a new footbridge across the A11, widened slip roads, new link roads, underpasses and more.
Abbas said the scheme was on track to be finished on target by Spring 2028, with the eventual aim of reducing congestion and removing 12,000 vehicles from the Thickthorn roundabout every day.
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