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Wednesday 20 Jul 2005

COUNTDOWN BEGINS TO FORTH BRIDGE REFURBISHMENT

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Preparations are nearly complete for Network Rail’s intensive eight-day refurbishment of the Forth Bridge. The 115-year-old structure will be closed from Sunday 24th July, reopening for business as usual on Monday 1st August. This is the longest closure in the bridge’s history and is part of Network Rail’s £13 million investment in the structure’s future. More than 170 workers are gearing up to erect scaffolding, blast off paint, encapsulate work areas with industrial ‘cling film’, carry out any necessary repairs and paint 25,000 square metres of steel with an industrial coating that should last more than 20 years. They will be working around the clock and extremely close to the track - a job that is impossible to do while trains are running. Ron McAulay, Network Rail’s Director, Scotland, said: “This is an unprecedented closure which has involved years of planning and gives us a challenging work schedule to get through. Thankfully we have a very experienced and committed team who will be working shifts through the day and night to make the most of the closure. Good weather is crucial to our work on the Forth Bridge and getting this access when the weather is usually drier and less stormy is crucial. Obviously weather is one thing we can’t plan for, so we’re watching the forecasts closely! “First Scotrail has worked hard to timetable alternative transport while the Bridge is out of use. We would like to thank them and their passengers for their support and patience. Hopefully everyone understands that this short-term inconvenience is absolutely necessary for the long-term preservation of this vital transport link.” Network Rail is also using the closure to carry out a £5 million project on the nearby Jamestown Viaduct. A separate team will strengthen the steel work and carry out repairs.