Network Rail has announced that they will soon begin a £7.5 million renovation of the Forth Bridge.
This renovation is part of Network Rail Scotland's £4 billion investment in Scotland's railway, from 2019 to 2024.
Balfour Beatty holds the refurbishment contract, and they will deliver various maintenance projects to refurbish the 130-year-old bridge, including maintenance and monitoring of the bridge bearings, refurbishment of staff welfare facilities on the structure and renovation of the Inchgarvie lighthouse.
The north approach span will be repainted with a glass-flake epoxy paint system. This paint was applied during the restoration of the bridge in 2011.
Firstly, engineers will surround the approach span with scaffolding before grit blasting the old paint layers off the steel, to check for major issues during the inspection.
Then, the metal will be repaired and repainted, with the new paint lasting up to two decades!
Train services across the Forth Bridge will not be disrupted during the renovation.
What did the officials say?
Alan Ross, Network Rail Scotland's director of engineering and asset management, said:
“The Forth Bridge has been a key part of Scotland's Railway for over a century and this work on the approach spans to the famous structure is vital to ensure we continue to maintain a safe and reliable railway.”
“Balfour Beatty have been supporting our restoration and maintenance programmes on the bridge for two decades and will bring a wealth of experience to this latest project.”
“We are also committed to delivering this vital investment in Scotland's Railway with a minimum of disruption to the local community and without interrupting train services.”
Colin Hardie, regional construction superintendent for Balfour Beatty's Scotland and Ireland business, said:
“This award is testament to our collaborative relationship with Network Rail, having first been contracted to deliver restoration works on the Forth Bridge in 2002.”
“Our expert team takes great pride in restoring a structure with such global significance and we look forward to beginning the new refurbishment works so that Forth Bridge can be enjoyed by the many for generations to come.”
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Could I be imagining things, but I swear that when the bridge was renovated last time 10 years ago they said the new epoxy flake paint would last 25 years or more, not less.
They said the old ways of endless bridge painting were a thing of the past.
Russell
That was how I remember it too Russell.
The most iconic railway bridge in Scotland does need renovation, TLC and a complete refurbishment. Wonderful news for Scotland. Scotland should be proud of its famous masterpiece and landmark.