Hospital construction crane in place above market town

3 hours ago

Trevor Bevins

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The crane in Dorchester is 25m (82ft) tall

LDRS A large red and white crane rises high above the brown brick buildings below. — The crane in Dorchester is 25m (82ft) tall

A 82ft (25m) tall crane will dominate the skyline of a historic market town for more than a year.

The crane, which has a 230ft (70m) span will be used in the construction of the next phase of Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

It was lifted into place this week by another crane, with a small team of people bolting each section into place, where it is expected to stay for the next 15 months.

Capable of lifting up to 16 tonnes, it will be used for loading deliveries and lifting heavy materials.

It will be used in the next phase of Dorset County Hospital's expansion

LDRS A large red and white crane in the middle of a building site, with a large brown-brick building to its right hand side. — It will be used in the next phase of Dorset County Hospital's expansion

The hospital expansion project will see a new emergency department and critical care unit built, as part of a £100m project funded through the government's New Hospital Programme.

"Increasing demand is putting extra pressure on our emergency department, which treats twice as many people as it was built for," the hospital previously said in a statement.

It added: "Demand is expected to rise, so investment is vital to make sure we can meet our patients' needs."

The two new units are being built on the former site of Damers School and will link to the existing hospital.

The building will feature a helicopter landing pad on its roof and a new ambulance facility alongside the building.

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