The contract to renew the bridge deck waterproofing system underneath the bridge deck kerbs and replace the bolts that hold the kerbs in place began as scheduled on 1 April. During the past few weeks the successful contractor, Taziker Industrial Ltd. , have been mobilising their engineering team on site and developing detailed traffic management and health and safety plans and finalising their overall project programme.
They have also been testing a number of installation procedures off site before beginning formal site installation trials on the south cantilever in mid-May. These formal trials are required to confirm that key elements of the scheme such as grit blasting, welding and waterproofing can be carried out successfully under site conditions and that the required standards are met. Once the trials have been approved work can begin on the remainder of the south cantilever.
The first phase of the works will focus on the south cantilever. Access across the bridge for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained until August 2019 and there will be no effect on other bridge users until then.
“We are pleased that Taziker Industrial Ltd. are now on site and have made a good start with preparing for this complex scheme.” said Richard Cole, Engineering Manager of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee. “It is very important that Taziker demonstrate their working methods and prove that their installation procedures will achieve the standards required by the contract.”
“The working methods chosen by Taziker will reduce the impact of the works on all bridge users. This is good news as it means bridge users are very unlikely to be affected by lane closures until August. However, there will be a number of work zones and an increase of work vehicles and workers on the south cantilever pedestrian and cycle path, and we ask that pedestrians and cyclists observe the safety signs and restrictions and take extra caution around work zones.”
“The works could also be distracting for motorists travelling in a westbound direction on the main deck of the bridge adjacent to the work. We would ask these drivers to pay particular attention to the road conditions and take care when driving across the bridge.”