October 6 2021

Network Rail is to conduct a £700k refurbishment of a dilapidated Glasgow bridge as part of an ongoing infrastructure modernisation programme.

Work will involve grit blasting flaking paint and rust from Bell Street bridge in the inner east end, as well as carrying out steelwork repairs and repainting from 18 October to 1 April, with diversions in place throughout the work.

Stephen Orr, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “Our work at Bell Street will not only extend the lifespan of the bridge, but will help us to continue to run a safe and reliable railway through Glasgow.

“In order to complete this project as quickly and as safely as possible, we need to close the road under the bridge to traffic. Having the road closure in place means we can carry out these works with minimal overall disruption and inconvenience to the community."

The work follows ongoing regeneration of the area including the Bell Street Stables, a new build apartment block at 331 Bell Street and the delivery of 32 mid-market rent homes at the junction with Little Dovehill.

Plans are also in train for a £200m build to rent project on former railway lands to the immediate north. 

6 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 6 Oct 2021 at 11:47 AM

Painting it is the easy bit -- getting live passenger trains to run across it will be the hard bit.

CrossRail is the future just a case that TS don't have the vision to see that.

#2 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 6 Oct 2021 at 11:51 AM

Road closure ...

That will go down well with the current Transport 1800 / Anti Destination League mob in the City Chambers.

Even better for them if you can make it permanent.

#3 Posted by modernish on 6 Oct 2021 at 13:08 PM

6 months to tart up a bridge seems a tad excessive. Good prelims if you can get them

#4 Posted by Peter on 6 Oct 2021 at 17:20 PM

Make sure you get of flying rats out of the bridge underbed - once and for all.

#5 Posted by Roddy_ on 6 Oct 2021 at 23:03 PM

The condition of bridges over the Bathgate/ Edinburgh line between Dennistoun and Calton is an embarrassment that conveys wilful neglect and entropy. Something that both neighbourhoods can ill afford.
When will NR get round to refurbishing and strengthening these?
https://goo.gl/maps/TizthDH15u9RV55a8
https://goo.gl/maps/wy5fUQW3TMUDm4B96
https://goo.gl/maps/bs3CJXJXVcQVfJTh6
https://goo.gl/maps/Q5jotSDqYM8aPZfMA
https://goo.gl/maps/sLFWHDWBwLPR2PZL6

#6 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 7 Oct 2021 at 09:28 AM

20 week programme of works including a full road closure to speed things on -- NR are having a laugh.

£35K per week spend on a bit of painting and a bit of welding -- some mistake surely?

It would be interesting to see the spend split into 3 elements -- project management / engineering / touch labour -- to see if this is another piece of white collar welfare?

Either that or the bridge has been allowed to deteriorate to a dangerous degree under the watch of the same NR -- not good.

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