Joint working by Perth and Kinross Council and Network Rail has enabled the successful completion of repairs to Luncarty Bridge in Perthshire.
Luncarty Bridge carries the B9099 road over the Perth - Inverness railway line and sits directly south of the village of Luncarty. Part of the bridge parapet was damaged in late 2019 when struck by a vehicle and the immediate repairs needed to make the structure safe for road users and the railway below were carried out following the accident by Network Rail.
With other bridge repair and maintenance projects locally taking priority, and the added complexity of requiring a full closure of the railway line, the full repair project has taken somewhat longer to come to fruition.
Through liaison with Network Rail, the Council's Structures team was able to arrange for a contractor to carry out overnight weekend working to retrieve the fallen masonry from the bridge, complete a masonry survey, source replacement materials and rebuild the parapet wall. Alongside this, works were also required to install a hard edge/kerb along the road over the bridge and provide additional protective measures to the bridge section directly above the railway.
The Council's Economy and Infrastructure Convener, Councillor Grant Laing said: "We have tackled a number of significant bridge repair projects in recent years due to the impact of severe weather events. Luncarty Bridge, while less urgent thanks to initial repairs carried out by Network Rail, needed a joint approach to complete the permanent measures required, particularly as the main railway line to Inverness runs underneath it. It's very satisfying to see all the works completed safely and effectively through collaborative effort."
Raymond Sherridan, head of asset protection and optimisation at Network Rail, said: "We're pleased to have supported Perth and Kinross Council in delivering these important repairs. Working closely with the Council and their contractors, we facilitated the necessary track access to safely recover the fallen masonry from the lineside and enable the reconstruction of the parapet.
"This collaborative approach has ensured the works were completed safely and effectively, helping the bridge continue to serve the community."
