Watch: Arrival of huge beams for the new York's Bridge being built near Walsall

Meanwhile residents are reminded that the Fingerpost Public House overlooking the bridge site is open for business as usual despite the road closure.

Drivers can get to the pub car park from the nearby fingerpost junction where Norton Road meets Wolverhampton Road and Lichfield Road.

Pub manager Sam Blackwell says: "We are open for trade. We are on day four of the road closure which has already damaged our trade. We're about 50 per cent down on or normal footfall.

"The sign says the road is closed, but cars can actually get to us from the fingerpost junction and pull right up on to our car park. We understand that the work does need to be done fr the bridge. It is what it is, but we'd like to appeal to the community  to come and support us or lose us.

"The traffic diversion route is from the A5 via Brownhills."

A huge green crane was installed ahead of the beams arriving in Norton Road for the new structure to take traffic over the Essington and Wyrley Canal. It is being built  to replace an 1800s humpback bridge which will not be demolished.

The work on the new wider bridge is expected to be completed later this year.