Glasgow City Centre: Saltmarket bridge improvement work

A £3.8 million investment on the rail bridge spanning the A8 at Saltmarket, near Glasgow Cross.

A £3.8 million investment on the rail bridge at Saltmarket, near Glasgow Cross

We'll carry out vital metalwork repair work before removing the old paint and rust and then priming and re-painting the bridge.

From August 2022, Network Rail and our supply chain partner Story begin work to refurbish the rail bridge spanning the A8 at Saltmarket, near Glasgow Cross.

The wrought-iron structure on the City Union Line is more than 150-years old and provides a diversionary route for freight traffic and also passenger trains to Shields Depot where they are stabled and cleaned.

The 12-month programme, from August 15 until September 2023, includes essential repairs to extend the lifespan of the bridge as part of our commitment to running a safe and reliable railway.

Project Timeline

19 August to 19 September 2022: Rivet busting to remove and replace 800 rivets, and also carry out of metalwork repairs to the top of the bridge structure.
19 September to 23 October 2022: Single lane closure in place of outer northbound (Empire Bar side) to allow erection of scaffold over the footpath, covering of bridge structure, grit blasting, steelwork repairs, painting and masonry repairs. Concrete and brickwork breakout and ballast retention work.
24 October to 27 November 2022: Steelwork and strengthening works, which includes an element of rivet bursting on each shift. Mechanical preparation and paintworks, and also masonry repair works.
28 November to 9 December 2022: Painting bridge and then removal of scaffolding and traffic management.
05 January to 14 May 2023: Phase three of the work at the southbound (Bonjour Bar) side of the bridge, with temporary traffic management in place.

Project Updates

First phase of work completes

Time: 0.00 | Date: 03-10-22
The first phase of work to the bridge, which involved rivet busting to remove and replace 800 rivets and do steelwork repairs to strengthen the top of the bridge, is now complete.

For the next phase of activity, we are able to carry out much of the work during daytime and evenings, although there will continue to be overnight work at weekends.

To allow us to carryout the work safely, a single lane closure of the outer northbound road (at the Empire Bar side of the A8) will be in place. This is to allow us to erect scaffolding over the footpath and then cover the bridge in protective sheeting so that we can then break-out some concrete, followed by grit blasting and steelwork repairs.
Phase three begins at Saltmarket

Time: 9.00 | Date: 05-01-23

Since work started in August, we've now completed the first two phases of our programme to the northbound (Empire Bar) side of the bridge, delivering essential repairs, steelwork strengthening and painting the structure.

Phase three started on 5 January 2023 at the southbound (Bonjour Bar) side of the bridge. Again, this includes having temporary traffic management in place, with a single lane closure of the outer southbound road to allow us to erect scaffolding over the footpath and then cover the bridge in protective sheeting to allow rivet busting, grit blasting and steelwork repairs to take place.

For the next phase of activity, we are continuing to carry out much of the work during daytime and evenings to further lessen the impact of working throughout the night during the week.

Our working times are:

05 Jan to 08 Feb - Sun to Fri, 07:00hrs to 18:00hrs

05 Jan to 08 Feb - Sat nightshift, 22:00hrs to 07:00hrs

28 Jan to 08 Feb - Sun to Fri, 18:00hrs to 12:30hrs

04 Feb to 01 Apr - Mon to Fri, 12:30hrs to 23:00hrs

01 Apr to 16 May - Sun to Fri, 07:00hrs to 18:00hrs
Bridge work reaches the halfway point

Time: 13.30 | Date: 03-03-23
February 2023 marked the halfway point on project, as it's six months since work began.

Take a look at our video update from the project team to find out what's been achieved so far.

Why?

The work is designed to protect and extend the lifespan of the bridge. It's part of a wider, rolling programme of maintenance aimed at keeping the network safe and reliable.

When complete, the works carried out will mean the bridge is stronger, meets current safety standards and will not require repainting for up to two decades.

What will change?

We’re investing £3.8 million on carrying out essential steelwork repair work before removing the old paint and rust and then priming and re-painting the bridge.

This will address the breakdown of general paintwork and other issues throughout the wrought iron structure.

Tasks

Set-up of site compound includes installation of temporary offices and welfare facilities.
Rivet busting involves hammering our a number of old rivets across the bridge structure and replacing these.
Erection of scaffolding includes the use of hand and power tools.
Encapsulation of the bridge structure.
Metalwork repairs includes the use of temporary lighting, generators, compressors, rivet busting and hand tools.
Grit blasting includes the use of blasting equipment powered by air fed compressors
Painting the bridge involves the use of temporary lighting, generators, and equipment powered by air fed compressors.

Glasgow City Centre: Saltmarket bridge improvement work