Video shows the construction of the largest single span bridge being built as part of the £500m M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project in Scotland.
The footage reveals nine pairs of 3m high steel beams, approximately 77m in length and weighing almost 2,000 tonnes, being lowered into position over the North Calder Water, near Bellshill in North Lanarkshire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM4ILq1m31Y&feature=youtu.be
The construction of North Calder Water Bridge is part of major works to upgrade Shawhead Junction. The new bridge will carry traffic on the new M8 over the North Calder Water to the south of the existing A8.
As one of the widest structures of the project at 77.25m, the new bridge will carry three lanes of traffic in each direction, alongside new on and off-slip roads, linking the M8 to the A725 both north and southbound.
The placement of the beams marks a significant milestone in the progress of the project and signifies the culmination of months of planning between Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP), the contractor responsible for delivering the project, and its construction joint venture, Ferrovial Lagan.
New Minister for Transport and Islands, Humza Yousaf, said: “This challenging feat of engineering is evidence of the Scottish government’s substantial commitment to invest in Scotland’s trunk road infrastructure and upgrade the existing A8 to motorway standard.
“I am enthused to see substantial progress being made on this major project, particularly, on the new alignment of the M8. This complex project presents its own unique challenge to upgrade Scotland’s busiest trunk roads, whilst minimising disruption to the 100,000 vehicles using these routes every day.”
