News

News

  • Works have progressed well this week, with over 2000 tonnes of the original 1960's asphalt surfacing removed off site for recycling by sub-contractor E&J Douglas. The large planers took the asphalt layer off to a level above the existing concrete deck surface, so that it wasn't damaged. This is because the concrete surface installed between 1963 and 1966 is not perfectly level and we needed to avoid damage to the structural slab from such large milling machines. The next stage, which also commenced this week, is to use much smaller milling machines to gently scrape, or scabble, the remaining asphalt to expose the concrete surface without damaging it. This process takes a number of "passes" to make sure that this process does not damage the slab before surface preparation can take place to make sure that the new waterproofing will stick to the concrete. 

    The contractor, Volker Laser on behalf of Volker Stevin, have also started to remove the smaller Half Battered (HB) kerbs from lane 2 and to tidy up the concrete upstand that they leaned against. This is a labour intensive job and requires workers using spades to remove old bedding sand and mortar from the upstand. Volker laser have removed around 500 linear metres of kebing off site to date (just another 1750m to go before we need to remove the larger L shaped kerbs from lane 1!). Milling of the surface will continue for a few weeks yet as we need to scabble an area of approximately 16,500m2. 

  • Works commenced on Monday this week when we installed a contraflow on the northbound carriageway. Please do keep your speed down when using the bridge because this reduces marker post strikes, which need to be replaced by the traffic management team. The more posts we need to put back, the greater the disruption to traffic flow. We have installed a 30mph speed limit on the bridge for everyone's safety. If you drive an HGV please take extra care because the carriageway is narrower than you might be used to on the trunk road network. We have modified the Bridgehead roundabout and installed a double white line at the Fife end of the bridge to allow more room for larger vehicles to navigate onto or off the bridge, so please be prepared to slow right down and stay in your lane until you see the Roadworks End signs. You can still access Tayport and Newport-on-Tay from the B946 link road because we have modified the "splitter island" to allow us to keep the left turn from the southbound direction. Unfortunately, we cannot allow a right hand turn from the B946 link road but you can still access the bridge northbound via the Forgan roundabout. 

    The works have progressed well this week, where existing movement joints are being removed carefully by hand to avoid damaging the concrete deck below. A large Planer Machine will start to remove the original 1966 asphalt surfacing next week, so you'll also start to see a convoy of lorry tippers that will take the spoil off site for recycling. We have also been undertaking level surveys of the southbound carriageway over nights this week to give us a baseline for determining levels for installing the new kerbs. We survey at night because the bridge is much quieter and this reduces the bridge movement that is caused by the traffic "live loading" on the structure.  

  • THE SECOND phase of major works on the Tay Road Bridge is set to get under way next month.

    Carriageway closures and traffic management arrangements will be introduced on the south (Fife) bound, in a mirror image of similar work successfully completed last year.

    From Monday March 4, crossing will be via a contraflow arrangement, with the southbound closed and both Fife and Dundee traffic using the remaining carriageway on a single lane basis.

    The works will see the original 1966 surface completely removed down to the concrete bridge deck and waterproofing applied before a new asphalt surface is laid on top. In addition, 92 new expansion or movement joints will also be installed.

    Chair of the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board Cllr Gary Holt of Fife Council said: “We learned a lot from last year’s successful completion of similar work on the Dundee bound side but fundamentally we need to do these works to keep the bridge in good condition and safe to use for all users.

    “We’ve received positive feedback about the new surface and while we appreciate that there will be some inconvenience to bridge users, a new road surface will provide a safer and smoother journey across the bridge.”

    While the bridge will be accessible for most vehicle types, wide and abnormal loads will not be able to cross with traffic going in opposite directions separated by reflective marker posts and restricted to a single lane.

    The shared path will remain open in both directions at most times but may be subject to some restrictions during certain work activities. Users can keep up to date with the works on the bridge’s twitter account @tay_road_bridge.  

    During the works a maximum speed limit of 30mph will be in place along the length of the bridge to protect bridge users and contractors working on the site.

    The speed limit will also reduce delays as lower speeds have been shown to result in less damage to the marker posts, meaning less temporary lane closures to make good the damage.

    Contractors Volker Stevin are carrying out the works which it is hoped will be completed within six months.