As reported yesterday shot blasting works have been continuing to remove the remaining surfacing material from the cantilever decks. There will be a deck inspection by engineers along the south cantilever tomorrow morning to assess the extent of any surface repairs which may need to be carried out. A similar inspection will then be carried out on the north cantilever.
When any welding repairs have been carried out, the paint ‘primer’, the first stage of the waterproofing system, will be applied to the bare steel deck. This will help to protect the steel from corrosion.
Once the primer has cured, the teams will begin applying the two layer waterproofing system, providing additional corrosion protection to the steel deck. This will be followed by the application of the ‘tack coat’ on top of the waterproofing. This will help the new surfacing material bond to the waterproofing, creating a composite surfacing system.
This will be followed by the laying of the special surfacing material onto the deck. This will be done in two thin layers using a special surfacing machine that runs on rails to ensure that the contractor achieves the correct material thickness while also providing a smooth running surface.
The final stage is the application of road markings and installing a replacement illuminated road stud system.
The works on the cantilevers remain on schedule, with Phase 1 currently programmed to last until end of July. The North cantilever will then be returned as a general traffic lane for the remainder of the project. At the same time South cantilever will be opened to westbound traffic.