Project Details

Description

BEAR Scotland has been commissioned by Transport Scotland to carry out a bridge deck refurbishment scheme; including, installation of new waterproofing, concrete deck repairs (if required), footway works, installation of new sub-surface drainage, carriageway resurfacing, and replacement of gullies (if required). In addition to the deck refurbishment, works to this bridge will also involve the installation of steepled coping to the top of the parapets on both carriageways as an additional anti-climb measure.

Construction activities for the bridge deck refurbishment and parapet cope installation procedure are as follows:

  • Set up traffic management (TM) and mark out site,
  • Reinstating kerbs,
  • Replacement of gullies (if required),
  • Milling of existing bituminous material by road planer (between expansion joints and up to 15m either side on the approach to the expansion joints),
  • Jackhammer and compressor for breaking up surfaces not accessible by planer (e.g. around gullies),
  • Planing of footway between expansion joints,
  • Removal of the existing waterproofing system,
  • Concrete deck repairs (if required),
  • Loader/excavator used to collect and move excess material,
  • Sweeper to collect loose material and provide clean laying surface,
  • Milled out/excavated materials all taken off site,
  • Installation of new waterproofing system,
  • Binder material laid and compressed by paver (where required),
  • Material compacted using a heavy roller,
  • New bituminous surface course material laid by paver,
  • Material compacted using a heavy roller,
  • Mechanical sweeper to collect loose material,
  • HGV for removal and replacement of material,
  • Road markings and studs applied where necessary (in accordance with Chapter 5),
  • Coping to be installed on top of existing parapet (along the full length) by drilling holes into the existing parapet rails and bolting / screwing copes into place,
  • Tidy site, move TM and repeat all steps on the opposite carriageway,
  • Coring through the bridge deck, likely near the eastern abutment (where required), to connect a new sub-surface drainage pipe to the existing drainage within the bridge, and
  • Tidy site, remove TM and open road.

The works are programmed to be completed within the 2026/2027 financial year with works expected to begin on 10th August 2026. Works will be undertaken over approx. four weeks (working hours TBC). TM is currently programmed to be a 24/7 closure of one lane, with one-way traffic on the other lane until works are complete. The diversion route for the closed lane will be via Tweedbank Roundabout, B6360, A7, and Kingsknowe Roundabout.

A full night-time road closure may be required for some elements of the works. The diversion route will be the same as above.

Location

The scheme lies on the A6091 Galafoot Bridge within the town of Galashiels (Figure 1).