Alun Griffiths Contractors Ltd has secured the contract for the final stage of the Barmouth Viaduct upgrade project.
The local contractor, of which half of their workforce live in the Barmouth area, was also awarded the contract to replace the timber on the structure in 2020 and 2021.
Network Rail says it is “committed to spending money locally” and says that for every £1 spent with Alun Griffiths, the local economy will see a return of £1.95.
The £30m restoration of Barmouth Viaduct began in 2020 with work to replace more than 1,000 timber elements of the structure.
Work on the next stage will start in September 2021 and will see the timber element replacement work continue, with rotten elements removed and 452 timber main beams replaced.
The final stage of work will be completed in 2022, where the corroded steel parts of the viaduct will be replaced.
The swing bridge elements will be replaced and the track on top of the viaduct will be replaced before the work is finished.
Barmouth Viaduct will be closed from Sunday 12 September 2021 to Sunday 12 December 2021 while work is carried out.
Other local suppliers include Huws Gray Building Merchants (Dolgellau), Wynnstay General Mechants (Dolgellau), Arthog Slate Quarry (local to site), Brandon Hire (Aberystwyth), Speedy Hire (Aberystwyth)
Gareth Yates, Network Rail project manager, said: “It's fantastic to see the progress our teams have already made on the restoration of the iconic viaduct and we look forward to continuing to work with Alun Griffiths on the final stage of the work.
“Barmouth Viaduct is the largest timber bridge still in use. It's really important that we do we all we can to preserve the structure so that it can continue being used as a key transport link for local people and visitors for generations to come.”
Tim James, Rail Director at Alun Griffiths said: “As a Welsh civil engineering contractor, we are delighted to be designing and delivering the upgrade of the steel section of bridge which follows on from our upgrade of the timber section of bridge.
“We are local to the area and we are proud to be delivering this project which brings economic, social and transport benefits for the area”.
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Surely the swing bridge section should be retained as it’s a prominent part of the history of the bridge.
As far as we are aware, the swing bridge section will have parts replaced where needed. It will not be operational as a swing bridge, but will still have the same appearance as it currently does
I am hoping the Barmouth Bridge will be brilliant once it had the upgrade. My parents and I used to walk along the side of the bridge on the footpath from one side to Barmouth, while the DMU passed us in the opposite direction. (I think it was the 1980’s) we were on holiday then at Towyn caravan site.