Building the New Highgate Archway Bridge, c1899

The original bridge was built in 1813 after a tunnel being dug under Hornsey Lane collapsed, bringing the lane down with it. This forced a change of plan and in 1813 a cutting was dug and a 'Roman-style' viaduct built to carry Hornsey Lane across it. However, the viaduct proved too narrow for the volume of traffic and the present Archway bridge opened in 1900.

I believe that the structure in the background is a temporary bridge since, according the old Ordnance Survey maps, the new bridge was built in the exact same location as the old one.

You can see a picture of the original bridge in 1898 here.

Old Ordnance Survey maps show the old bridge as Highgate Archway.