20 July 2021

The resurfacing of the south cantilever was completed last week and, if the fine, dry weather continues, the resurfacing of the north cantilever is due to be completed by the end of this week.

Work on the second phase – which includes resurfacing the three lanes on the main deck, the toll plaza area and the bridge approaches, as well as completing the replacement of the remaining four bridge expansion/movement joints – is currently due to begin on 29 July.

However, as a result of the good progress made by VolkerLaser in completing the work on the cantilevers, this date may be brought forward. The date for the start of the resurfacing works on the main deck will be confirmed later this week.

This successful completion of the first phase on schedule means that the entire project remains on track for completion by the end of October 2021, when all lanes will re-opened to traffic.

Tamar Crossings staff have been working closely with VolkerLaser, Highways England, and the highways teams from Cornwall and Plymouth Councils to finalise the traffic management arrangements for this phase of the scheme to minimise traffic build up and any potential delays as much as possible.

This has included reviewing the effectiveness of the current traffic management arrangements, and continuing to liaise with local stakeholders to ensure that the proposed arrangements meet their needs.

The lifting of the remaining COVID restrictions and the beginning of the peak summer holiday season at the end of July means there will be an increase in traffic using the bridge which will need to be carefully managed.

The resurfacing of the main deck will be carried out on one half of the deck at a time, beginning on the north side and then moving to the south side.

One lane on the main deck will remain available for traffic throughout the works, with traffic also using both the north and south cantilevers. This will provide three lanes at peak times which will be managed as follows:

• the north cantilever will be used for eastbound traffic from Cornwall and for local traffic, with lane 7 on the toll plaza acting as a tag only lane as normal – this should help to reduce traffic congestion in Saltash

• the south cantilever will be used for westbound traffic and so will remain closed to pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooters for the remainder of the scheme

• the single lane on the main deck will be used to help manage and balance traffic flows, with the direction changed to respond to build-up of traffic or incidents such as accidents or breakdowns on the bridge or adjoining roads.

The free bus services will remain in place to transport pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooters safely across the bridge.

The works on the main deck mean that the overhead lane control signs cannot be used by the bridge’s operational staff to change lane priorities and manage traffic flows. Instead the control room staff will be working with traffic management teams sited at either end of the bridge implement traffic plan changes.

Directed by the bridge operations teams, the traffic management teams will use a mixture of physical signs and traffic cones to change the priority of the lane on the main deck as required.

The bridge’s specialist vehicle recovery teams will remain on site 24 /7 to deal with vehicle breakdowns on the bridge as quickly as possible for the duration of the project. The control room staff will also continue to liaise with Highways England and the police to ensure that any incidents or accidents causing congestion on the A38 or roads adjoining the bridge are managed effectively.

“We recognise the impact of these essential works on both people using the bridge and those living and working in the surrounding communities, and are very grateful for their patience” said Bridge Engineer Richard Cole, who is overseeing the resurfacing project.

“While the reduced flexibility means it will inevitably take a little longer to change the direction of traffic in response to an incident, the control room staff will be monitoring traffic flows around the clock to ensure that action is taken to reduce congestion and delays as quickly as possible.

“We will continue to work with our contractor to ensure that the scheme is completed as quickly and safely as possible.”

The process for the resurfacing works on the main deck is exactly the same as has been carried out on the cantilevers.

This includes:
• removing the majority of the thickness of the existing surfacing material using a road planer.
• removing the remaining thin layer of surfacing either by hand using mechanical hand tools or using a large flat blade on a suitable digger/dozer machine
• blasting the steel deck with grit/shot using an enclosed mobile blasting machine to remove any remains of existing surfacing and deck waterproofing material, providing a clean deck so engineers can thoroughly inspect the steel deck and welds for cracks or damage
• carrying out repairs to damage on the deck as required
• applying paint ‘primer’ to the bare steel deck to protect the steel from corrosion
• applying a two-layer waterproofing system on to the primer – this provides vital corrosion protection to the steel deck
• applying a ‘tack-coat’ on to the waterproofing – the ‘tack-coat’ helps the surfacing material bond to the waterproofing material creating a composite surfacing system
• laying the surfacing material in two thin layers using a special surfacing machine that runs on rails – the rails are set up to ensure that the contractor achieves the correct material thickness while also providing a smooth running surface
• applying road markings and installing a replacement illuminated road stud system.

The use of the south cantilever for westbound traffic during this phase of the project means that the free shuttle bus service will continue to enable pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooters to cross the bridge quickly and safely.

During the first phase of the project Tamar Crossings staff have worked closely with VolkerLaser and local bus operators Plymouth City Bus and Roselyn of Cornwall to constantly review service schedules and routes to achieve the right balance between customer convenience, carbon efficiency and Covid safety.

As a result the ‘on-demand’ mini bus service now operates between 06.30 am to 6.30 pm and the night time bus timetables have been reduced to avoid empty vehicles running at night.

It is, however, vital to ensure that the shuttle bus services are available when people want and need to use them to cross the bridge. Partners will continue to review demand as Covid restrictions are lifted to ensure that both the mini-bus and bus services cater for individual customer needs to help them avoid using their cars or cycling across the bridge.

Regular updates will continue to be posted on the Tamar Crossings website and social media channels, and provided to partners and stakeholders, including motoring organisations and the local media to keep people informed. This includes details of any traffic congestion or delays which are also being displayed on electronic messaging signs along the A38 at Manadon Junction and Trerulefoot Roundabout.

“We are very aware of the importance of the Tamar Bridge as a vital transport link between Cornwall and Devon” said David List, Tamar Crossings General Manager. “This is a major once in 20-25 year scheme which is essential for the safety of bridge users and in ensuring the ongoing service life of the structure.

Our staff are committed to working with contractors and partners to deliver this final phase of the resurfacing project as safely as possible with as little disruption to bridge users as possible.