Media centre

Thursday 8 Jan 2004

SHOREHAM VIADUCT RECEIVES £1.3M FACE LIFT

Region & Route:

| Southern

Network Rail has successfully completed a £1.3m scheme to restore and refurbish a traditional, Victorian steel viaduct that runs over the River Adur between Lancing and Shoreham on sea stations. The Shoreham viaduct is one of the UK’s earliest steel structures and carries twin rail tracks for the Sussex coastline.             The structure was completely refurbished and repainted, restoring the viaduct to its original condition. The 360m long viaduct had detiorated in places due to the effects of saltwater corrosion. The work will ensure that is protected from rusting for at least 25 years.              Built circa1892, the structure has been carefully restored with particular attention paid to the paint scheme, which has been designed to complement the local area.             Geoffrey Osbourne Ltd was the main contractor for the work, which took 9 months to complete. The viaduct was grit blasted and painted with further maintenance work carried out to the repair steel work. Network Rail takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and liaised with the local authority, the Environment Agency and English Nature prior to the start of the work. The contractors worked to strict guidelines to ensure that disturbance to the local environment was kept to an absolute minimum.             Network Rail’s Regional Director, Robin Gisby said, “This work forms part of Network Rail’s commitment to rebuild Britain’s railway.  A considerable amount of work, money and effort has been put into the refurbishment scheme and I’m very pleased it has been so successful.”