Wembley Arch lift begins

The 133m-high Wembley Arch began its lift today. The Arch will take up to six weeks to raise into position.

There are four key stages to the operation as the arch is lifted 30, 65, 100 and 112 degrees. Constant checks will be made throughout the lifting process until it reaches the final angle of 112 degrees.

The arch supports the entire weight of the north roof, 60% of the southern roof and the retractable roof. It consists of 500 steel tubes, forming 13 modules and two tapered end sections, which are attached to giant hinges, embedded in concrete bases founeded on 35m-deep piles.

Multiplex project director Ashley Muldoon said: "We have made tremendous progress in the first 18 months of demolition and construction - so much so we are ahead of the original construction schedule. Lifting the arch is a key phase of the project, but for the structure of this magnitude and complexity we need to spend an enormous amount of time, man power and precision, so patience is necessary when lifting it into place high above the world''s greatest stadium."