Bridge refurbishment completed

A bridge over the River Spey in Scotland has been refurbished. 

Stirling Lloyd's Eliminator bridge deck waterproofing system has been used to enhance the structural performance of the Boat o' Brig bridge in Orton, Scotland.

The waterproofing is part of a refurbishment project on the 76 metre span arch-topped bridge, undertaken by Moray Council following some £900,000 capital funding by the Scottish government.

Deterioration of the bridge's original concrete bridge deck led to it being cut up and removed off-site prior to replacement with a reinforced concrete deck cast on top of its steelwork. Stirling Lloyd Construction's waterproofing work then involved the application of some 450m² of Eliminator. Offering a service life in excess of the 120 years required of the renovated bridge, this comprised three elements: a primer, a cold, liquid, spray-applied membrane and the SA1030 Bond Coat. Stirling Lloyd also installed a Sentinel Buried Joint during this first phase of the work.

A second phase of work then saw Stirling Lloyd's Decseal Wearing Course slip resistant surfacing system applied to a pavement walkway on the bridge for improved pedestrian safety. In addition, Stirling Lloyd's Sentinel EMR Joint, a BD33/94 Type 6 Elastomeric in Metal Rail Joint, was also installed on the bridge.

Although the steelwork on the bridge was in reasonable condition, the lower half of the bridge up to parapet height was blast-cleaned and painted to further extend its life, with the upper section simply washed down.

Neil Fotheringham, senior bridge engineer at Moray Council, said: "We were happy with the waterproofing work carried out by Stirling Lloyd on this bridge. The Eliminator system may have a strong track record on major bridge structures throughout the world but its role in protecting and extending the life of this smaller, but strategically important, road bridge was just as critical."