Kessock Bridge works completed
The £13.2m upgrade of the Kessock Bridge is today totally completed, with all restrictions lifted.
It is five weeks since peak time traffic restrictions were lifted ahead of schedule and since then work has continued on the footways and cycleways under overnight lane closures to minimise traffic disruption.
The fully upgraded “gateway to the Highlands” will now see a permanent 50mph speed limit implemented with the 30mph restrictions that have been in place throughout the 20 week programme removed.
The upgrade to the bridge has been delivered in two main phases over two five month periods between February 2013 and June 2014.
It has involved:
- Removal and replacement of 3,126 tonnes of surfacing
- Installation of 450 parapet base plates each weighing ¼ tonne and welded to the steel bridge deck
- Testing of 11km of welds
- Testing of 23,000 m2 of steel plate
- Re-tensioning of the 64 cable stays supporting the main span of the bridge
The project has involved over 60 staff working on the bridge at any one time with in excess of 500 staff involved in the project at some point. This includes both local labour and specialist experts from overseas, providing both direct employment and indirect benefits to the local economy.
This project has been successfully delivered through close working relationships with Transport Scotland, the main contractor Balfour Beatty, and BEAR Scotland who project managed the scheme.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “The upgraded Kessock Bridge is an example of Transport Scotland’s commitment to improving transport links across the Highlands. It represents a £15m investment in transport infrastructure, both in the bridge and in associated local junction improvements.
“The project has been completed ahead of schedule, as is the case with many such projects, and that is testament to the great efforts of the teams involved. Their work will bring long term gains to Inverness, such as reduced journey times, and I would like to thank the public for being patient and helping us to keep journey times down during the refurbishment.”
