Repairs resume on road bridge after winter break

Published on Thursday 19 March 2009 09:22

WORK to tackle corrosion in the main cables of the Forth Road Bridge is being stepped up again after a winter shutdown.

Special platforms are being refurbished after being tied down for the last few months when strong winds presented a risk.

The platforms will be propelled to 150 metres to allow contractor C Spencer Ltd to resume sealing the cables in an airtight sheath.

Very dry air will then be blown inside the cable in an attempt to reduce the humidity to a level where corrosion cannot occur.

Barry Colford, chief engineer and bridgemaster, said: "We're determined to give ourselves the best possible chance of beating corrosion in the main cables.

"The team has worked extremely hard to get the project back on schedule.

"I'm confident in the dehumidification system we've developed.

"However, it must be stressed that there are no guarantees and we won't know how successful we've been until the system has been given time to work and the cable is re-inspected in 2011-12."