COATINGS
The project also involved repair and re- placement of walkways, including the in- stallation of new walkways and catwalks to allow for access to the works and to as- sist in the future examination and mainte- nance of the bridge. Additionally, there was replacement of small localized sections of steel where required. The bridge’s architec- tural lighting system was refurbished.
Over the life of the project, more than 1,500 people have worked on the structure, with up to 400 people a day on the bridge at the height of the refurbishment works. The bridge, which was built between 1883 and 1890, is 1.5 miles long.
The track is about 150ft above the water level and the bridge reaches 330ft at the tops of the towers. The steel structure con- tains more than 6.5 million rivets.
David Simpson, Network Rail route man- aging director for Scotland, said: “The completion of this refurbishment will safe- guard the future of one of the country’s most famous landmarks.
“Repainting the bridge has long been con- sidered one of the world’s never-ending tasks, and the refurbishment programme we have just completed has been one of the biggest engineering challenges Network
Rail has faced. Our staff and contractors can take real pride in their achievements on this project, not least in the fact that through their efforts this amazing struc- ture will remain free of major maintenance work for at least two decades.”
Marshall Scott, managing director of Bal- four Beatty Regional Civil Engineering, added: “Balfour Beatty is immensely proud to have successfully delivered the pro- gramme to refurbish the Forth Bridge over the past decade.
“It is a testament to the skill and commit- ment of the project team, and the subcon- tractors and suppliers, involved in this sig- nificant and complex programme of works that the iconic Forth Bridge has been re- turned to its original condition.”
A small team of specialist engineers will continue to monitor and maintain the bridge, which is regularly exposed to ex- treme conditions due to its location.
Recent bad weather, including strong winds and storms has already meant that the Forth bridge has had to be shut this January.
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rail technology magazine Dec/Jan 12 | 71
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