Scottish Trunk Road Network Maintenance Contract - South East Unit

Tender description

The Forth Road Bridge (FRB) is a long span suspension bridge which carries the A9000 over the Firth of Forth. It was opened in 1964 and is a Category A listed structure. The bridge consists of two approach viaducts and a suspension bridge which forms the main section of the structure. The bridge carries two 7.3m wide carriageways and two 4.6m wide footway/cycleways. The two longitudinal stiffening trusses span the length of the bridge between the towers and are supported from the top chord by a series of vertical hangers supported from the main suspension cable. The bridge has a main span of 1006 metres, and the side spans are each 408 metres long. The decks on both the main and side spans are supported on steel stringer beams that span between large steel cross girders spaced at 9.144 metre centres. These cross girders are supported by two longitudinal stiffening trusses which in turn are supported by the main cables. Throughout the Forth Road Bridge suspended span there are currently 1260 painting defects recorded with paintwork. Additionally, the existing paint system on the structure is now life expired. Without a sufficient protection the bridge will be prone to corrosion and structural defects, reducing the lifespan of the bridge. Therefore, a replacement paint system is necessary. BEAR Scotland are looking to appoint a contractor to carry out blasting, steelwork repair, welding and painting within the temporary works erected on the suspended span staging board system. Phase 1 of the refurbishment works include the Suspended Main Span from panel point 93-95 South (18m). Contractors must have demonstrable experience of similar technically complicated works and be sector scheme approved to NHSS 19A & 20, BS EN 1090 Execution Class 3.