The last few days have seen good progress made in laying the waterproofing material ahead of the arrival of our specialist resurfacing contractor early next week. Weather permitting, the waterproofing is due to be completed by the end of Sunday, with Aeschlimann then beginning the resurfacing works on Monday.
As previously explained the steel bridge deck has to be resurfaced in a specialist, asphalt material. At just 45mm thick, this material is much thinner and lighter than the materials used in standard road construction.
The material is laid in two thin layers using a special surfacing machine that runs on rails. The rails are set up to ensure that the contractor achieves the correct material thickness while also providing a smooth running surface.
The resurfacing of the north side of the deck is expected to be completed by the end of next week, with the focus then moving onto the south side, with the overall project remaining on schedule to be finished by the end of October.