Work on resurfacing the deck of the Tamar Bridge will begin after the Bank Holiday weekend and is expected to continue for six months.
Traffic management arrangements will be put in place overnight on Tuesday (June 1) to enable work on Phase 1 of the project to begin on Wednesday. This work will begin after 8pm on 1 June after the evening rush hour has finished to avoid disruption to traffic. The free bus services will also begin operating on the evening of 1 June.
Resurfacing the steel bridge deck involves a series of highly complex procedures and has to be carried out during dry, mild weather – meaning that the project can’t be done in the quieter winter months, says Tamar Crossings.
The resurfacing work is being carried out by VolkerLaser, a specialist civil engineering contractor with extensive experience of working on bridges. It will be overseen by Tamar Crossing’s Engineering Manager Richard Cole.
Three traffic lanes will be kept open throughout the works to help minimise disruption to bridge users, with the south cantilever used as an additional traffic lane when necessary. This means that the south cantilever will be closed to pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooter users from approximately 8pm on the evening of June 1 for the duration of the works.
As with the kerb replacement project, free bus services will be provided to enable these groups to cross the bridge. Local traffic from Saltash will be diverted from the north cantilever onto the main deck of the bridge.
A bus service will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with buses every 15 minutes between 6am and 9pm and every 30 minutes during the night. Additionally, a minibus with trailer for bikes and scooters will be run as an ‘on-demand’ service during the day, seven day a week. Call points for the minibus will be located at Pemros Road and North Road. Using these services will enable cyclists to avoid cycling through the heavy traffic on the bridge during morning and evening commutes, as well as reducing the interface between user groups. Tamar Crossings says that while cyclists are legally permitted to use the bridge traffic lanes, it strongly encourages them to use the bus service.
“The opening of the south cantilever nearly twenty years ago was intended to provide cyclists with a safer alternative for crossing the bridge,” said a spokespserson.
“In offering these (bus) services we are doing our best to replicate the improved safety provided by the south cantilever and so, for this reason, we would strongly encourage cyclists to use this option during these works.”
Regular updates on the project will be posted on the Tamar Crossings website and social media channels, and provided to motoring organisations and the local media.
“We are, of course ,very conscious of the importance of the Tamar Bridge as a vital transport link between Cornwall and Devon” said David List, Tamar Crossings General Manager.
“This is a major once in 20-25 years scheme which is essential for the safety of bridge users and in ensuring a long service life for the structure.”
“We will be working closely with contractors and partners to deliver the resurfacing project safely, efficiently and with as little disruption to bridge users as possible. “
Anyone with queries in relation to this work can visit the website where there is detailed information about the project, or email [email protected] with their message which will then be dealt with by our customer services staff during normal business hours.