Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Repairs completed at historic rail viaduct
Busy road reopens
Centenary Avenue in Coatdyke has reopened following a two- month closure for repairs to the historic railway viaduct.
The arched bridge was repaired in a £1 million project by Network Rail engineers and contractors AMCO – with much of the work being carried out by abseilers suspended from the structure.
Strengthening bars have now been installed, while more than 2500 square metres of masonry have been repaired across the 10 spans of the viaduct, using 1.5 tonnes of mortar and four pallets of stone matched to the original construction material.
Network Rail added that : “Twenty spandrel ties have also been installed across the bridge, effectively bolting it in place to reduce movement ; and more than 300 holes have been drilled in the structure to ‘stitch’ masonry sections together.”
Vegetation has also been cleared from within five metres of the viaduct as part of the bridge refurbishment project.
Project manager Suzanne McKay said: “The repairs to the bridge were necessary for the ongoing integrity of the structure, but will also improve the aesthetic appearance of the viaduct.
“We appreciate the co-operation of the local community while we carried out this important work; while we understand that the road closure was disruptive for local people in the short term, it was an important step to ensuring that the work is delivered safely.”
Fulton MacGregor MSP visited the viaduct – which forms part of his Coatbridge constituency boundary – shortly before the work was completed.
He said: “Visiting the site gave me a chance to see first-hand the progress made and some of the challenges faced in strengthening and protecting an important local landmark and crucial part of our transport network.”