Road Works Off.

Carnegie reads that the major roadworks which were planned for the Forth Road Bridge next year could be postponed until 2016, after the new Forth Bridge is constructed.

"A MAJOR maintenance contract on the Forth Road Bridge is to be postponed until the new crossing is open – even though experts have confirmed crucial joints have reached the end of their life. Replacing main expansion joints on the bridge, scheduled for next year, was expected to mean disruption for up to ten weeks, including possible contraflows and a temporary ban on lorries. The tender for the work came in at £13.7 million – some £5m more than expected. But nearly £6m of cost was for "mini-bridges" to lift traffic over the joints while the work is carried out. Now a review by bridge engineers and outside consultants has concluded the replacement work can safely be delayed until the new bridge opens in 2016, so long as failsafe devices are installed and the joints monitored."

A bit of good news about roadworks on the Forth Bridge for a change.

Mini-Bridge.

"THE cost of replacing expansion joints on the Forth Road Bridge has jumped from £5.9 million to £8.7m, according to a new report by bridge bosses. The joints, which allow the bridge to expand and contract, need replacing because they have come to the end of their lifespan. The price rise is being blamed on an increase in the cost of raw materials as well as the cost of installing a temporary viaduct to keep the bridge open during works. Engineers have designed two large temporary ramps – dubbed "mini-bridges" – over the joints which would allow traffic to travel over them while work was carried out below."

Carnegie thinks it's a clever idea.