NETWORK Rail is to repair girders on the underside of the bridge at Paisley Gilmour Street Station to strengthen the structure and extend its lifespan by another 25 years.
Work will get underway on January 4 and conclude on March 14, with engineers completing the work during nightshift hours from 10pm until 6am on Sundays to Thursdays and 10pm to 8am on Saturdays.
With the bridge being a B-listed structure, Network Rail said care will be taken to restore any brickwork to its original form. Surrounding stonework will be required to be taken down in order to expose the girders which extend behind the walls. Specialist engineers will then add 25 steel plates to strengthen the beams, with the stone then being set aside and reinstated on completion of the repairs.
A traffic management plan and associated signage has been agreed with Renfrewshire Council and will be in place during this time. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to continue to travel safely under the bridge via the footpath for the duration of the work and train services will also be unaffected, Network Rail added.
Jason Haxton, Network Rail’s project manager for the work, said, “The work to strengthen the structure and carry out other repairs on this railway bridge is part of our commitment to providing a safe and reliable railway. While we need a lane closure to deliver the work safely and efficiently, we will maintain access for pedestrians and cyclists to minimise the impact of the closure. I’d like to thank road-users and local residents for their patience as we carry out this vital improvement work.”
