Drumgrew bridge re-opens after reconstruction
Network Rail has re-opened Drumgrew Road following the completion of an eight month, reconstruction of the railway bridge.
A section of the B8048, which runs between Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch, has been closed since 3rd August, 2015, to enable the completion of the £2m bridge.
As well as significant utilities diversions and reinstatement at both the beginning and of the project, work involved demolition of the existing masonry arch structure over a single weekend in October, strengthening the abutments, reconstruction of the decks and parapets before reconnecting the new bridge to the road network.
The work is part of the advance clearance works for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) which will deliver electrification of lines across central Scotland’s rail network; including the main Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High line (E&G) by December 2016.
The opening of the bridges marks the completion of the 59th of 61 structures to date as part of EGIP and represents another significant milestone towards clearing the line for electrification.
Rodger Querns, Programme Director for EGIP, said: “Faced with the constraints of the Victorian rail infrastructure, reconstruction of the bridge at Drumgrew Road was a considerable undertaking, not least because much of the work has to be done at night to maintain train services during the day.
“The electrification of central Scotland’s railway is a genuinely transformational investment in our infrastructure and key to unlocking additional capacity, reducing congestion and ensuring that longer trains provide more seats for passengers. It will lead to faster journeys on quieter, cleaner, greener trains.
“I would like to thank the local community and those who use the road network locally for their cooperation and patience as we delivered this important investment in the railway.”
A Scottish Government funded investment worth £742m, EGIP is delivering a rolling programme of electrification across the central belt – reducing journey times and boosting capacity on key routes between our major cities.
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