The presentation will describe the ongoing maintenance works that is carried out on the Forth Road Bridge. Since 2017 the Forth Road Bridge has served as a dedicated public transport corridor carrying public access vehicles and allowing pedestrians and cyclists to cross the Forth Estuary.
This reduction in vehicle traffic has enabled construction maintenance works to be carried out on the bridge at a lower cost than would have been possible prior to the opening of the adjacent M90 Queensferry Crossing. As a long span suspension bridge the greatest loading on the bridge remains wind loading and therefore critical strengthening and maintenance works remain ongoing for the bridge and are described during the presentation. The following topics will also be discussed.
In an emergency the Forth Road Bridge should be capable of accommodating the full volume of M90 traffic. Construction is underway for an automated vehicle barrier system that will enable traffic to be diverted quickly and safely from the M90 Queensferry Crossing to the Forth Road Bridge if an incident occurred on the M90 that prevented vehicles from crossing the bridge. The presentation will briefly discuss the ongoing construction, design and operation of the automated barriers.
The presentation will also discuss the ongoing works to replace the side tower elastomeric bearings which have been in service since 1964 as well as strengthening of the side tower lateral thrust bearings that carry suspended truss wind loading. Other ongoing critical maintenance painting schemes will also be discussed.
