Tomorrow, Wednesday 18 August, between 10 am and 2pm we will be reducing to two traffic lanes on the Tamar Bridge - during this period, the two cantilevers will be used to provide an eastbound and westbound lane for traffic to cross the bridge.
Volker Laser will be applying a bond coat, the final stage in the waterproofing process, prior to the surfacing operation commencing at the weekend. The low viscosity of the sprayed bond coat, combined with the moderate forecast winds, means that there is a potential risk of the bond coat blowing onto passing vehicles in the adjacent traffic lanes. In order to reduce that risk, along with other local screening measures, the main bridge deck needs to be closed until the process is complete.
Additionally, with wet weather forecast for the remainder of the week, it is vital that the bond coat is applied on Wednesday to keep the resurfacing project on schedule.
Reducing to two traffic lanes is not undertaken lightly and, so far, we have been able to maintain three traffic lanes – this particular closure will be limited to an off-peak period as permitted under the contact.