06-05-2025
Major works to be carried out on three Scottish bridges
Engineering works on Forth Road Bridge, Tay Bridge and Kessock Bridge will take place during 2025 and 2026.
Specialist contractor Spencer Bridge Engineering was appointed to undertake the works, having worked on similar infrastructure projects for the last 30 years.
Forth Road Bridge The firm is set to replace the lateral thrust bearings on the Forth Road Bridge, which are from the bridge's original construction in the early 1960s and have reached the end of their serviceable life.
The project will begin this year with engineers installing temporary steelwork to enable the replacement, with replacement work taking place next year during a period of "favourable weather".
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The contractor will also replace two underdeck gantries on Tay Road Bridge, which connects Dundee to Newport-on-Tay.
Tay Road Bridge A team will replace the gantries, which have been in place since the 1980s, to allow future maintenance works to be carried out more efficiently.
The third project is at Kessock Bridge, which crosses the Beauly Firth at Inverness. Spencer Bridge Engineering has been appointed to carry out steelwork modifications on the pylons on the bridge.
Kessock Bridge (Image: Dave Conner) Once completed, the works will allow improved access and will create a rescue system to improve the safety of workers in the event of an emergency.
Glen Smithson, operations director at Spencer Bridge Engineering, said: 'Having the ability to provide turnkey solutions, delivering both the design and installation works, enables us to have tight control of each element of the project and ensure we are delivering the highest quality works in the most efficient way.
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'Our ethos of having strong collaboration with our clients ensures our projects are more closely tailored to each client's individual needs and specifications.
'Our teams are adept at working in remote, exposed locations, with difficult logistics, which is another factor which makes us so well equipped to work on so many Scottish infrastructure projects.'
