Further delays spark plans to switch to night work on Cromarty Bridge
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ENGINEERS are to begin working on the Cromarty Bridge overnight from the middle of the month after the finish date for completion of major repairs slipped yet again.
Bear Scotland engineers have been carrying out £1.5 million worth of refurbishment work on the bridge since last August as part of a wider programme of maintenance on the busy A9 crossing.
But the harsh winter months caused the original completion date to slip into May and, earlier this week, the date was pushed back again – this time to June 8.
The delays have led to frustration for thousands of motorists who have to contend with reduced speed limits and traffic lights during their daily commute over the crossing.
“Works started last August for six months we were told,” said one “very frustrated daily user of the bridge”.
“The finish date on the Traffic Scotland website was January 31. But on January 31 the date was changed to May 1, then to May 17.
“Having seen the scaffolding moved to the opposite side of the bridge yesterday I’ve looked on the Traffic Scotland website again and the finish date is now June 8.”
Apologising for the continued delays, a spokesperson for Bear Scotland said its contractors were looking to switch to overnight work from “mid-May” in a bid to ease disruption and said the final stages of the work are “expected to be completed by the end of this month”.
Traffic Scotland, however, was still showing a June 8 completion date on its website this week.
The spokesman said: “The ongoing £1.5 million Cromarty Bridge deck refurbishment project is in the final stages with work expected to be completed by the end of this month.
“The vast majority of the project was programmed to avoid impacting motorists during the busier summer season, and teams have been working hard throughout the winter months to try and complete the works as quickly and safely as possible.
“Unfortunately the adverse weather conditions this winter hampered some elements of the project, including high winds preventing teams from working safely beneath the bridge deck and sub-zero temperatures limiting the concrete operations from taking place when planned.
“Despite efforts from the teams to try to bring the project back to programme, the full reopening of the bridge deck has been delayed. We’re now working with our specialist contractor to switch the remaining sections of the project to overnight working to further limit the impact to road users, with this likely to be in affect from mid-May.
“We thank road users and the local community for their continued patience while we work to complete these essential refurbishment works on Cromarty Bridge, and encourage them to keep checking Traffic Scotland for up to date journey information before setting out.”
More details about the overnight works will be publicised nearer the time.
The works are the latest in a string of maintenance on the bridge in recent years.
Engineers have been working to refurbish all of the bridge spans. Resurfacing work has also been carried out.
The current works are taking place on the four spans that had yet to be upgraded. Once complete all of the spans will have been refurbished.
The disruption has led to some frustrated motorists being accused of risking their lives and others by jumping the red lights or travelling much faster than the temporary 30mph speed limit.
