Work to finally finish the Queensferry Crossing will continue for another year at least, it has emerged.
Contractors had estimated in January that snagging works would be done by the end of September, but officials now say that “difficulties in mobilising resources” has had a significant impact on progress.
Most of the work is expected to be completed by the end of December this year, but underdeck painting and snagging work as well as work on the bridge’s three towers is unlikely to be finished before October 2019.
Michelle Rennie, Transport Scotland’s director of major transport infrastructure projects, said all work will be carried out under the terms of the existing contract with no additional cost to the public purse.
Average journey times are also not expected to be impacted by the remaining work, she added, with traffic management likely to be implemented during the night where possible.
“As I previously indicated, the dates associated with individual elements of work were target dates and that these were subject to change,” she stated in a letter to the Scottish Parliament’s rural, economy and connectivity committee.
“Since I provided that information, the contractor has experienced difficulties in mobilising resources, and this has had a significant impact on his progress.
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“However, the contractor has advised that he now has the resource necessary to undertake the remaining work and is very confident, with the exception of two areas, all snagging and finishing works to the external areas of the bridge deck will be completely by December 2018.”
The £1.35 billion bridge opened to traffic in August 2017, but snagging works have been carried out ever since – causing some delays and frustration for motorists.
Ms Rennie pointed out that completion of underdeck painting and snagging works had taken longer than anticipated due to difficulties experienced in securing a safe underdeck access platform.
She added that snagging work at the three towers would involve minor concrete repairs to the towers and commissioning of cable inspection cradles.
“The contractor is currently in the process of finalising a safe method of working in order to complete this work which, due to weather constraints, are programmed to commence in spring 2019,” she noted.
MSPs have also been told that some “routine maintenance work” may need to be done on the bridge, but that “impact on traffic will be minimised” where possible.
