An 8km stretch of the motorway was closed from 9pm Saturday evening until just before 9am on Sunday.

A 500t crane was set up on the northbound carriageway to lift a 38.5m pair of girders weighing 57t into position and a 250t crane on the southbound carriageway lifted a second pair of girders weighing 41t and measuring 29m.

The bridge replaces a 42-year-old structure that was demolished in January.