A9 Kessock Bridge tower strengthening works to run for 10 months instead of six, Bear Scotland warns Highland motorists; £2m project for Transport Scotland will now start in January
Motorists face 10 months of disruption on the Kessock Bridge after delayed multi-million pound roadworks were rescheduled and extended.
Work had been due to commence this month on a £2million series of “essential” works to strengthen the bridge towers, which would have resulted in six months of disruption, with reduced speed limits and night-time lane closures expected.
But earlier this week it was revealed that the start date had slipped.
And, in an update on Thursday morning, Bear Scotland - which is carrying out the work for Transport Scotland - unveiled a new, longer-running timetable for the project.
It means that work will begin in January and will not now finished until October of next year - four months longer than the six-month window originally envisaged.
Site surveys will also be carried out by engineers in November and December, although Bear Scotland has stressed that these “will have no impact on bridge users”
Once work begins properly in January, engineers will be carrying out structural strengthening of all four of the bridge’s steel towers, as well as installing new anemometers to measure wind speed and aid bridge management during stormy conditions.
During the 10-month project, one of the bridge’s two footway/cycle paths will be closed at any given time, with diversions put in place.
There will also be “intermittent overnight lane closures” on the dual carriageway itself”, as well as reduced 30mph speed limits over “short” unspecified periods of time in order to protect the workers.
Ian Stewart, Bear Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “These essential works on Kessock Bridge will strengthen the steel structure, upgrade our wind measurement equipment and we will also take the opportunity to improve access and safety inside the towers for our teams.
“We will do everything possible to complete this essential strengthening project as quickly and safely as possible. We thank all road users and the local community for their patience in advance.
“Please plan ahead by checking the Traffic Scotland website for up-to-date journey information and leave some extra time to complete journeys.”
Bear Scotland added that that the strengthening work will help to “ensure the bridge continues to meet loading standards for major bridges in years to come”.
And they added that plans for “intermittent night time lane closures will be required for material deliveries” but also stressed that “these will be planned to limit any disruption to bridge users”.
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.traffic.gov.scot, on Twitter at @trafficscotland or on the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
