Erskine Bridge Refurbishment (Painting & Strengthening)
River Clyde, Scotland, UK · Ongoing (e.g., 2019-2023 for painting contract, earlier strengthening works) · £18m (for painting contract, 2019 prices); £34.6m (projected total contract cost for A898 maintenance and improvement works)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchExtensive maintenance painting program to protect the steel structure from corrosion. - Design and construction of a footway panel removal, refurbishment, and reinstatement scheme. - Earlier repairs in the 1990s costing over £3.5 million highlighted the need for ongoing structural assessment and maintenance.
Key engineering challenges
Blasting, painting, strengthening, and weld repairs of cantilevers and deck box. - Working at height over a major river with full containment. - Refurbishment of footpaths and removal of existing surfacing. - Managing traffic disruption on a key transport link.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Transport Scotland
- Lead contractor
- Spencer Group (painting contract)
- Lead designers
- —
- Project type
- refurbishment | upgrade
- Scale
- Multi-span cable-stayed box girder bridge; 60,000m2 of structure to be painted
- Disciplines
- Civil; Structural; Materials
- Standards & frameworks
- —
Sources: Transport Scotland: https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/a898-erskine-bridge-maintenance-and-improvement-works-environmental-record-of-determination/project-details/ - Spencer Group: https://thespencergroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Spencer-Group-Bridge-Capabilties.pdf - Insider.co.uk (2019): https://www.insider.co.uk/news/engineering-firm-given-contract-18-17265982 - BridgeWeb (2019): https://www.bridgeweb.com/Four-year-contract-awarded-for-repainting-of-Erskine-Bridge/5012 - Scottish Roads Archive: https://www.scottishroadsarchive.org/erskine-bridge