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Plans for Anchorage Investigation

The operators of the Forth Road Bridge today announced plans to carry out excavations and load testing to determine the long-term structural integrity of the bridge’s main cable anchorages. Initially, it is proposed to commence work at the south anchorage as it is expected that if corrosion of the strands has occurred it will be worse at this location. Further work would depend on the results of this examination. The need to carry out an investigation into the condition of the anchorages was determined in the course of a study into the feasibility of replacing or augmenting the main cables, completed by consultant engineers Fairhurst in 2008. The bridge authority has arranged two public meetings for local residents to discuss the impact of planned bridge works. These will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday 15 March at the Forth Road Bridge Administration Office in South Queensferry, and at 7 p.m. on Tuesday 16 March at the Queensferry Hotel in North Queensferry.
Further Information: http://www.forthroadbridge.org/news/plans-anchorage-investigation

Major Project to Replace Bridge Bearings

A major project to replace the bearings on the Forth Road Bridge’s approach viaducts is expected to begin within months, following the conclusion of a competitive tender process involving six potential contractors. A new report to the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (the body responsible for the operation and maintenance of the bridge) recommends accepting Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering’s bid of £13.6 million to carry out the works. FETA’s engineers had previously estimated a contract cost of £15 million. The contract involves the replacement of all the bearings on the Forth Road Bridge’s north and south approach viaducts. Work on site is expected to start in early summer 2010, continuing through to January 2013.
Further Information: http://www.forthroadbridge.org/news/major-project-replace-bridge-bearings

Wire Breaks Reach Milestone

A new report to the Forth Estuary Transport Authority reveals that listening devices installed in 2006 had detected 50 wire breaks within the Forth Road Bridge’s main cables by the end of 2009. The news comes on the day the Forth Road Bridge’s Chief Engineer & Bridgemaster gives evidence to the Scottish Parliament committee considering legislation to authorise construction of a new Forth crossing. Installation of the Main Cable Acoustic Monitoring System was completed in August 2006 and since that date both main cables have been continuously monitored for breaks among the 11,618 individual high tensile steel wires that make up each main cable. The report states that there has been a recent increase in wire breaks on the west cable, adjacent to one of the bridge towers. The FETA Board will consider the report at its next meeting on Friday 26 February.
Further Information:

Freight Best Practice Scotland - Urban Driving Pocket Guide

Urban areas are some of the most stressful places that a professional heavy goods driver will face whilst driving. The idea of using unknown routes through built up areas, negotiating any number of traffic lanes, junctions and avoiding traffic related hazards will increase stress levels. Urban Driving Pocket Guide This Urban Driving Pocket Guide is part of a series of free publications produced by the Scottish Government under the Freight Best Practice programme. For a full list of all the publications and for further information, call the Hotline on: 0845 877 0877 or visit the website at :
Further Information: http://www.freightbestpractice.org.uk/scotland