BLACKBURN'S skyline changed shape this week with the arrival of two massive cranes which will help complete a £1.8million bridge project.

Waterfall bridge, which lies beneath Stancliffe Street between its junctions with Peel Street and Wellington Road in Mill Hill, is currently being rebuilt after being assessed as not being strong enough to carry the present volume of traffic.

Work started in November last year and so far new concrete walls have been built to strengthen the existing bridge. A one-way system around the area has prompted a petition from local businesses who claim their trade is suffering.

Now the cranes have arrived to begin lifting 55 10-metre long beams on to the concrete walls to create a new deck on the bridge.

The cranes weigh 80 tonnes and the main boom stretches out 100ft.

The whole project should be completed by April next year. The bridge forms part of one of the key through-routes across Blackburn, and is used by thousands of Blackburn Rovers' fans trying to get to Ewood Park.

Councillor Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said "Waterfall Bridge provides a vital link for the local community and it was essential that we were able to maintain this route for the people of Mill Hill.

"The bridge has been assessed as sub-standard for the traffic it accommodates and that is why the council has prioritised this bridge-strengthening work.

"Our staff have worked extremely hard to make sure that while the work is going on, access to businesses and local facilities is maintained.

"There have been and will inevitably be traffic delays and there are diversions in operation but without this work the effect would be to cut off the community from the main traffic network."

The old bridge was blamed for last summer's floods in the area. Both the council and the Environment Agency said the large number and size of the supports which hold the bridge above the River Darwen caused debris to clog the bridge, causing water to rise.

The work has been designed to minimise the risk of flooding in the future.