PROJECT UPDATE: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009
Wednesday November 18, 2009
Work on Airdrie Bathgate reinstatement continues on track
Work on the reinstatement of the Airdrie-Bathgate Link continues to heat up in spite of the autumnal chill.
Over the last month, the project team has been hard at work on the £300m project, which will reconnect communities in central Scotland, for the first time in 50 years.
Below is a snapshot of recent activity:
Overview:
• 200,000 man hours worked on the project in the last month. This figure accounts for 40% of the work carried out across all Network Rail infrastructure projects in Scotland.
• Over 500 staff have been working on the project in the last month
• Overhead electrification works between Haymarket and Bathgate is almost complete, with 706 masts installed
• Works along the line to prepare the route in advance of the first tracks being laid is well underway, with work on key sections of the link between Bathgate and Armadale, and Armadale to Blackridge, nearing completion
• In the last month, 10 bridges throughout the project have been demolished, including structures at Whitburn Road and Crawberry Hill
West Lothian
• Work at Bathgate Light Maintenance Depot is almost complete and the depot is on schedule to will be commissioned in November 2009.
• The piling works, to insert the structures to support the overhead electrification lines, at Whitburn Road are now complete.
• Work on the bridge at Stonerigg Road in Armadale has now finished and the road has reopened.
• The team will now to move onto the next bridge at Harthill Road/West Craigs Road. This road will be closed from the 5th of November and a signposted diversion route will be in place to allow the works to take place safely. Access for all local residents will remain at all times.
North Lanarkshire
• Main Street in Caldercruix has been closed, with a local diversion now in place as work to strengthen the bridge gets under way. Vehicle access is now possible via the former junction to the south end of Main Street and the A89 which is temporarily reopened.
Hugh Wark, senior project manager for Network Rail said:
“With every day that passes, the progression our team is making on the Airdrie-Bathgate line becomes increasingly visible. Real infrastructure changes are starting to take shape and it’s rewarding for us to see the results of our hard work coming into fruition.
“We are removing bridges and building new ones that will be big enough to allow for the new double tracked electrified railway. It won’t be long before we are laying the first new tracks.
“The excitement is building as the reopening of the full link becomes tangible. As always, we greatly appreciate the patience and support of the residents in the line side communities who are experiencing some local diversions due to the essential works taking place, as we continue to create the new gateway for rail travel throughout central Scotland.”
For general project enquiries email: info@airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk