THE bridge over the railway at Shields Road in the southside of Glasgow is to be demolished over the Easter weekend.
The £12.6 million project will see the bridge, which has been subject to weight restrictions for more than two decades, rebuilt to be stronger, wider, and better able to handle the size and volume of traffic that travels over it – with project completion scheduled for this summer.
Excavators will be used to demolish the bridge deck at road level this Easter weekend before being used to clear the resultant debris from the track. Attention will then turn to preparing for the build of the new bridge deck.
Engineers will remove the overhead line equipment that powers electric trains before the demolition begins and will reconnect them at a new position when work is complete. Materials to be used in the construction of the new bridge deck will then be moved into position ahead of its installation later in the year.
Laura Craig, Network Rail’s project manager for the bridge work, said, “Demolishing the bridge deck at Shields Road is a significant milestone for the project and with it removed, we can focus on building the new bridge which will better serve the community.
“Unfortunately, the footbridge cannot be used during part of the demolition weekend. We know this is inconvenient for those living and working in the area but is the only way that the work can be delivered safely and efficiently.
“We will be working continuously from Friday night until Monday morning to complete this vital piece of engineering work.”
