Around 50,000 new bolts will be used in Network Rail’s major scheme, which is starting today, to restore Royal Albert bridge.
These bolts – as ‘precious and mighty as Brunel’s legendary golden rivet bolt’ – will be vital to keep the landmark structure strong for the next century and beyond.
The £10m improvement scheme will see engineers investing nearly 2m hours of work over the next two years to strengthen and repaint Royal Albert bridge, bringing it back to its former glory.
Around 35,000 litres of special paint will also be used to spruce up and protect the bridge’s steel façade from corrosion.
Mark Langman, route director for Network Rail said:
“We have a big task to transform the railway on Great Western in the coming years and the improvement on Royal Albert bridge plays a big part.
“The Royal Albert bridge remains a vital rail link and has carried more than 1 billion tonnes of rail traffic since it was built. This is the most complex refurbishment work ever and our work will inject a new lease of life and keep the landmark bridge robust for many years to come.”
To be carried out in five stages, the work will start concurrently from each end of the bridge and it is carefully designed to minimise disruption to the community and passengers.
The scaffolding will be encapsulated to create a contained safe working environment to prevent dust and debris from falling from the structure and to reduce any noise pollution.
The encapsulation is sealed with Rockwool to help reduce any noise and its roof is also pitched to prevent accumulation of rain water, which could add weight to the structure. In addition, the encapsulation will form a tunnel around the track, so that engineers can continue to access the structure when trains are running.
A large industrial vacuum cleaner will be used to remove all waste, including grit produced during the blasting process. This waste will be removed daily to prevent any contamination to the environment.
The structure was listed Grade 1 in 1952 by the English Heritage, which has also backed the improvement scheme.
So far we, the neighbours, have had to put up with every piece of the scaffolding structure being wheeled up on a winch(with a squeeky wheel) AT ALL TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT. The too that they use to rattle our the rivits is used from 8AM in the morning and goes on all day. They have been banging and hammering at all hours. I don’t wok nightshift but if I did I would be rightfully enraged. It is hard enough trying to sleep at night with the sqeeky wheel (has no one at network scaffolding heard of OIL?) It’s bank holiday weekend SUNDAY and still there is no let up in the racket. I ope they find some way of improving their work pactise and at least try to adhere to statement made above quote:”The encapsulation is sealed with Rockwool to help reduce any noise and
its roof is also pitched to prevent accumulation of rain water, which
could add weight to the structure. In addition, the encapsulation will
form a tunnel around the track, so that engineers can continue to access
the structure when trains are running.” No sign of any rockwool from my vantage point.
Gerry Calderhead
Brooke Close
Saltash.