Shot blasting works have continued throughout the day to remove the remaining surfacing material from the cantilever deck. The rubber duck – ( the nickname for the rubberr wheeled digger) has also been in operation on the south cantilever to remove remaining material, together with the sweeper.
The same operation will take place on the north cantilever tomorrow.
A number of people have continued to ask why work is taking place on both cantilevers at the same time.
The answer is that we are doing our best to complete the works as quickly and safely as possible. Closing both cantilevers enables work to be carried out on each lane simultaneously. Working on one cantilever at a time would have added an additional 8 weeks to the overall length of the project.
Our contractor is required to maintain a minimum 3 lanes during peak periods throughout the project. This will enable them work most efficiently, particularly when they move on to the main deck works during the second phase of the project.
The first phase of the project is currently programmed to last until end of July. The North cantilever will then be returned as a general traffic lane for the remainder of the project. At the same time South cantilever will be opened to westbound traffic.