A9 Cromarty Bridge roadworks starting next month to last 20 weeks
A £2.9m programme of works on a key A9 link bridge in Ross-shire will start next month and take 20 weeks to complete.
The essential maintenance on the A9 over the Cromarty Bridge will take place on both lanes and is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 21.
To minimise traffic disruption, works are to be carried out overnight.
The works will involve concrete repairs, bearing replacements, bridge joint modifications, installation of a corrosion prevention system, expansion joint replacement and resurfacing of the road.
These works are being carried out at the south end of the bridge to repair concrete and steel defects caused by corrosion.
To ensure the safety of both road users and the workforce, temporary traffic lights will be on the bridge from 7pm until 6am, Monday to Friday.
Traffic lights will be removed outwith weekday working hours and a 30mph temporary speed restriction will be in place 24 hours a day as traffic will be travelling over temporary steel plates.
On Saturdays and Sundays, temporary traffic lights will be in place 24 hours a day to allow the contractor to complete longer duration works such as bearing replacements and concrete repairs above and below the bridge.
Where weekend working finishes earlier than expected, traffic lights may be removed.
However, whilst every effort will be made to complete the weekend works in as timely a manner as possible, there is a possibility that traffic lights could occasionally be required beyond 6am on Monday mornings.
Queuing traffic will be monitored on site and temporary traffic lights manually controlled at peak periods to minimise delays.
Recovery vehicles will be on site whilst temporary traffic lights are in place to attend to broken down vehicles or any incidents that may occur.
Access for emergency services will be maintained at all times and the footpath across Cromarty Bridge will remain open throughout the works.
Holding laybys will be provided for abnormal vehicles heavier than 80 tonnes and wider than 3.25m.
Abnormal vehicles heavier than 100 tonnes will have to use an alternative route from Monday, September 1 until the works are completed.
Euan Scott, BEAR Scotland’s north west representative, said: “This refurbishment is an important investment in this major structure by Transport Scotland which will help ensure the long-term integrity of the bridge.
“Learnings from previous works on Cromarty Bridge have been built into the planning for these improvements and have been designed to minimise traffic disruption.
“Our design teams have taken account of big local events such as the Black Isle Show and the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival when planning these works and will ensure that daytime temporary traffic lights are not in operation during these times.
“We’ll also be manually operating the temporary traffic signals at peak times to ensure traffic flows are optimised to minimise delays to road users.
“We are committed to completing this essential maintenance as quickly and safely as possible. We thank all road users and the local community for their patience in advance.
“Please plan ahead by checking the Traffic Scotland website for up-to-date journey information and leave some extra time to complete journeys.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.traffic.gov.scot, X @trafficscotland or on the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
