The historic Rob Roy Bridge in Culter in Aberdeen will soon see concrete repairs take place in order to ensure it stands the test of time, after Aberdeen City Council found that the structure – used by countless commuters and holidaymakers on a daily basis – is now at an “advanced stage of degradation”.
Significant repairs are apparently now a necessity, with the cost of the project expected to reach £530,000, the Press and Journal reports. The reconstruction is due to start on June 27th and will take around 26 weeks to complete.
The work involved includes demolishing the reinforced concrete section of the bridge in order to bring it up to modern standards. Traffic lights will be in operation as the work takes place, while locals should expect road closures to also come into effect intermittently in order to allow for the removal of the aqueduct protection system and demolition plant. The original masonry arch of the bridge can be dated back to the 19th century, while the arch beam and column north section was installed around 1920.
Neil Cooney, Aberdeen City Council communities housing and infrastructure convener, was quoted by the news source as saying: “Rob Roy Bridge forms part of the adopted road network and has long been identified as a structure requiring significant remedial works.”
The majority of bridge collapses are down to a number of different contributory factors. It may well be that a flood has damaged the bridge piers, for example, but the bridge might not collapse because poor maintenance or a design flaw is present. Bridge collapse can occur because of earthquakes, fire, flooding, construction accidents, design defects or poor maintenance. If you think you have a bridge in need of repair, get in touch with us here at Freyssinet to see how we can help.