Beam me up
Importantphaseunderwayinnewbridgebuild
A significant milestone in the construction of the new Kerse Road Bridge will be reached this weekend.
Network Rail said the first beams of the new structure will be lifted into place using a 750-tonne crane.
For a week from tomorrow (Saturday) engineers will work for a combined total of 1800 hours as the first two pre-cast concrete beams, weighing between 30 and 50 tonnes and 21-metres in length, are lifted into position.
Iain McFarlane, route delivery director for the Stirling-DunblaneAlloa (SDA) project, said the project was reaching a significant phase.
“Craning in the beams represents an important milestone as it is the first steps to reinstating a bridge over the railway on Kerse Road,” he added.
“With the 14 beams in position, we will see the structure really taking shape as the new bridge emerges from the site.
“The beams going in is the latest in a series of critical steps towards reinstating the bridge; including the successful demolition of the old bridge in April, the installation of 88-piled foundations and construction of the new east and west abutments to support the new deck beams.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to again thank residents and the wider Stirling community for their continued patience as we complete this important element of the bridge reconstruction.”
The Observer reported last month that the ‘below ground work’ on the £6 million reconstruction project had been completed.
Network Rail is replacing the bridge, owned by Stirling Council and erected in 1968, as part of the electrification of the rail network in the Stirling area.
The road was reduced to one lane in January as work on the 12-month replacement project kicked off.
A full closure was then put in place in April and will remain until October 21 when the bridge is reopened to two-way traffic.
Network Rail say once the new bridge is complete there will be potential for the council to add a third lane to meet Stirling’s traffic needs and enhance the road network.
Electrification of the rail network is being done to reduce journey times from Stirling to Glasgow and Edinburgh, increase capacity on peak services and provide longer, faster, greener trains.