Historic Highland Line viaduct strenghtened

Historic Highland Line viaduct strenghtened

The Scottish Division of Nuttall [HBG's civil engineering company in the UK] is progressing with a major strengthening contract to UB310/131 Auchtertyre viaduct, a historic five span viaduct carrying the Highland Line north from Crainlarich to Fort William.

The strengthening of the 91.5-metre structure, built in the late 19th century, involves post tensioning followed by the installation of secondary steel sections to replace corroded elements. Working at heights of up to 19 meters, Nuttall is utilising a complex suspended scaffold system to provide safe access beneath the bridge deck.

The design and build contract is one of a number awarded to Nuttall by Railtrack Scotland Zone under the Railtrack Structures Maintenance and Renewals 2001/2002 framework agreement for Scotland. Other packages include rock cutting stabilisation, track slab repairs, retaining wall stabilisation and structures maintenance and renewals. Work at Auchtertyre is due to be complete on site by March 2002.