WORK to repair and repaint a historic 140-year-old railway bridge in Glasgow has been completed.
Network Rail said the £1.5 million work on the Salkeld Street bridge, which is part of a wider programme to repair bridges near Glasgow Central station, has officially been completed.
Engineers completed repairs including rivet busting, which involves the removal and replacement of the rivets which hold the steel in place, as well as renovation to the steelwork and painting.
Ballast retention work was also undertaken, which saw measures put in place to stop ballast, the stone which holds the rails in place, escaping and falling from the bridge.
Christina Thomson, scheme project manager at Network Rail, hailed the project saying that maintaining older railway bridges helps to preserve Scotland’s heritage.
She said: “The bridges form part of key routes in and out of Glasgow, including the West Coast Main Line, so it’s important we do all we can to ensure their longevity. Not only has the work significantly improved their appearance, but it has extended their lifespan by at least 20 years.
“Maintaining old rail bridges is crucial because it preserves our heritage, reduces environmental impact, and is often more cost-effective than building new structures.
“We know well-maintained bridges can continue to serve their purpose safely and efficiently for many more years.”
The project forms part of a wide-ranging bridge modernisation programme designed to protect and improve Scotland’s Railway, with nearly £2 billion being invested to increase reliability and improve performance over the next five years.
