M1 Motorway, M1, Gayhurst, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, UK, 1958 (b/w photo)

Photographer, John Laing and Son (Holdings) Ltd; Builder, John Laing and Son (Holdings) Ltd A Bailey bridge being erected across the main channel of the River Great Ouse near Newport Pagnell, during the construction of the London to Yorkshire Motorway (the M1) The caption beneath the corresponding album print states 'The Bailey Bridge being launched is a Double-double, effective span 100'0'', over the Main Ouse channel. 220,000 c/y's of excavated material will be transported over this bridge by Euclids, saving a six mile haul by road. In addition it also makes it possible to travel the full length of B3 Section on the line of the motorway'.