Tamar Bridge resurfacing works will start tonight
The project is due to be finished in the autumn
Resurfacing works are about to begin on the Tamar Bridge.
Traffic arrangements are being put in place overnight from today (1 June), as Phase 1 of the project gets underway.
Work is set to begin after 8.00pm to avoid disruption to traffic. The free bus services will also begin operating this evening.
Three traffic lanes will be kept open throughout the works to help minimise disruption to bridge users, with the south cantilever used as an additional traffic lane when necessary.
This means that the south cantilever will be closed to pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooter users for the duration of the works.
Local traffic from Saltash will be diverted from the north cantilever onto the main deck of the bridge.
The resurfacing project is expected to take approximately six months to complete, with all three lanes on the main deck and both the north and south cantilevers being resurfaced. Tamar Crossings are also Tamar Crossings are also resurfacing the toll plaza area and the bridge approaches, and will be replacing all six of the bridge expansion/movement joints.
Phase 1 is currently programmed to last until end of July. The North cantilever will then be returned as a general traffic lane for the remainder of the project. At the same time South cantilever will be opened to westbound traffic.
The majority of works need to be done during dry and mild weather, and Tamar Crossings say it is "not possible" to carry out the works solely at night, as the lanes cannot be re-opened to traffic until the resurfacing has been completed.
The complete project is due to be finished in Autumn 2021, when all the lanes will be re-opened to traffic.
The resurfacing work is being carried out by VolkerLaser, a specialist civil engineering contractor with extensive experience of working on bridges. It will be overseen by Tamar Crossing's Engineering Manager Richard Cole.