Glasgow M8 New Cutty Sark Bridge

[me123]

Tedious? Not at all, always pleased to see the progress Keep 'em coming!

 

[onionjoe76]

Another excellent video Pax. Thank you.

Do you know why they are closing the small road to the public that you mentioned in the video. I would have thought it was a sufficient distance away from the bridge site. Or have the road excavation works started at that location now too. Is the near by footbridge over the A8 also going to included in the no access zone?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Bredisholm Road is being closed partly for public safety and partly to rebuild the bridge across the A8 which will need to be relocated and lengthened so as to cross the new part of the M8 as well. The founds are done for that work too. Another bridge across the M73 further along that road is also being rebuilt, though quite why is not obvious.

I only found this out yesterday, but have since found a closure notice and plan. It's a bit of a bummer actually because that road gave legitimate and safe access to a good view of the works on both sides of the railway.

 

[onionjoe76]

Bredisholm Road is being closed partly for public safety and partly to rebuild the bridge across the A8 which will need to be relocated and lengthened so as to cross the new part of the M8 as well. The founds are done for that work too. Another bridge across the M73 further along that road is also being rebuilt, though quite why is not obvious.

I only found this out yesterday, but have since found a closure notice and plan. It's a bit of a bummer actually because that road gave legitimate and safe access to a good view of the works on both sides of the railway.

Thanks for the info. I had hoped to perhaps use the footbridge to catch some of the action over the next couple of weeks. I noticed security fencing in the area today as I passed it. Oh well. Thanks for the plans too. I am a sucker for that kind of thing too. lol

They are possibly rebuilding the M73 footbridge because they are installing a new roundabout at the Baillieston end of "Scotlands Spaghetti Junction" and adjusting the the M73 to M8 slip road too (i believe that is actually going to close over the course of several weekends... that will be a traffic nightmare).

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Just came across this newsletter from Transport Scotland which has an aerial view of the bridge works before the on site assembly of the bridge structure itself. The white squares are the locations of the piling work for the bridge supports.

I took a screen grab of the largest view I could fit on my desktop but it might look better if you use the link and zoom in yourself.

 

[Carntyne]

The embankment looked well gone when I passed on Sunday night, didn't managed any pictures, sorry.

 

[Altnabreac]

Thanks for the info. I had hoped to perhaps use the footbridge to catch some of the action over the next couple of weeks. I noticed security fencing in the area today as I passed it. Oh well. Thanks for the plans too. I am a sucker for that kind of thing too. lol

They are possibly rebuilding the M73 footbridge because they are installing a new roundabout at the Baillieston end of "Scotlands Spaghetti Junction" and adjusting the the M73 to M8 slip road too (i believe that is actually going to close over the course of several weekends... that will be a traffic nightmare).

As well as realigning the roundabout, the M73 is also being widened by adding an extra lane on each side here. The footbridge abutments appear to be too close to the current carriageway to allow the extra lanes to be added.

The works principally consist of widening the existing carriageway by creating an additional lane at the following locations to tackle congestion at peak times:

• Eastbound carriageway of the M8 from Junction 10, Easterhouse
• Easterhouse to Junction 8, Baillieston Interchange.
• Northbound and southbound carriageways of the M73 between Baillieston Interchange and Maryville Interchange.
• Northbound and southbound carriageways of the M74 from Junction 3, Daldowie to Junction 5, Raith.
• Southbound carriageway of the M74 between Junction 5, Raith and Junction 6, Hamilton.

The works will maintain the existing slip road arrangements through the Baillieston Interchange.

The improvement works also include the following:

• A new slip road from the M74 Junction 3, Daldowie to the northbound M73
• Modification of the two existing roundabouts at the M74 Junction 3, Daldowie to a signalised junction
• Widening of four underbridges on the M74
• Demolition of the existing access bridge over the M73 to the south of Baillieston Interchange and provision of a new realigned access bridge
• Replacement of existing road drainage, including introducing a new Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) where practicable, over the extent of the project.

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/m8m73m74/network-upgrades

Fairly good plans here:
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/system/files/documents/tsc-basic-pages/NTS_Figure_2.pdf
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/system/files/documents/tsc-basic-pages/SR2.pdf

 

[onionjoe76]

Nice find Altnabreac.

Thank you also Pax.

 

[snowball]

Three projects were combined into one mega-contract:

the M8 completion (including of course Bargeddie bridge)

the addition of an extra lane to bits of the M8, M73 and M74 as described above

the burrowing of a third level under M74 junction 5 (Raith).

 

[clc]

Three projects were combined into one mega-contract:

the M8 completion (including of course Bargeddie bridge)

the addition of an extra lane to bits of the M8, M73 and M74 as described above

the burrowing of a third level under M74 junction 5 (Raith).

It also includes a new All Purpose Road adjacent to the motorway which means capacity between Baillieston and Newhouse will increase from 2 lanes each way to 4-6 lanes each way.

 

[onionjoe76]

It also includes a new All Purpose Road adjacent to the motorway which means capacity between Baillieston and Newhouse will increase from 2 lanes each way to 4-6 lanes each way.

This is true, although I believe the "new" all purpose road between Baillieston and Eurocentral will actually be the current A8 (with a new spur coming in from Bargeddie). From Eurocentral to Newhouse there will be new roads built on either side of the new M8. To be honest it's all quite fascinating to look at the plans and watch it all getting built. Although once the roadworks seriously starts to affect my journey times, I maybe won't find it so great afterall.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

New video on the way - just rendering now and then however long uploading takes. Really must see if there's a better grade of coal I could be using in my desktop - so slow with HD video. Will post a link when it's online.

Link is https://vimeo.com/133550992

No plot, no acting, no dialogue, nothing exciting but hey, no irritating music either!

Word is that the bridge gets moved at the end of this week, though it depends who one speaks to.
Meanwhile the track bed has been excavated by about 6 feet and the new abutments are being backfilled with mass concrete. The new accommodation bridge is also being worked on.

 

[clc]

Shame they're not refurbishing the existing bridge which is quite an eyesore.

 

[Altnabreac]

Shame they're not refurbishing the existing bridge which is quite an eyesore.

I expect if work on the existing bridge is required, it will be much easier to wait until next year when the road underneath will likely be closed for a while to allow the diversion of the new all purpose access road.

 

[onionjoe76]

Must admit I am baffled as to why they decided to hang the wires a couple of months ago, only to bring them back down to do this work. Fair enough put the pylons and everything else in place. Just seems needless extra work and probably expense too.

Or was cascading the 156/158's to other TOC's a bigger priority?

Nice video once again.

The water tower you focused in on was a teenage playground for me for a while. Sadly or perhaps thankfully, never got up on top of it

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Nice video once again.

Thanks

The water tower you focused in on ...

If only that were true

Since you are(were) local, is that the "Leaning Watertower of Tannochside" or what? Either it's at a slight angle or all of the lamposts for miles around are squint instead. Either way it makes it hard to level a tripod.

 

[onionjoe76]

Yes, I was from the bottom end of Tannochside (nearer Uddingston) but the water tower attracted teens of all ages from the local area to "hang about at" (very rarely any trouble either. Which is why the police seemed to turn a blind eye to the trespassing)

It does indeed appear to be at quite an scary angle. I don't live there anymore, so I don't know if there is a problem with it or not. But I'd be alarmed if I lived in the nearby houses.

I don't remember it ever being described as leaning, so perhaps its something that's happened in the intervening years since my youth (sadly a lot of them)

There was another taller metal one nearby (essentially across the road). It was inside the grounds of the old Caterpillar factory. But that was a no go area what with security guards and 24 hour working. It was one of the first things they pulled down when they closed the factory (I assume to stop us teens getting at it lol)

 

[NotATrainspott]

Must admit I am baffled as to why they decided to hang the wires a couple of months ago, only to bring them back down to do this work. Fair enough put the pylons and everything else in place. Just seems needless extra work and probably expense too.

Or was cascading the 156/158's to other TOC's a bigger priority?

Nice video once again.

The water tower you focused in on was a teenage playground for me for a while. Sadly or perhaps thankfully, never got up on top of it

A two week closure of a few tens of metres of open track isn't going to change the economics of electrification that much, if at all. If I'm not mistaken, the only things properly lost are the concrete pilings, as the gantries themselves can be dismantled and relocated in future. Electrifying the Whifflet route was a priority because the route fits in so well with the rest of the Argyle Line timetable, especially as it means fewer conflicting movements at Rutherglen.

 

[onionjoe76]

Fair enough, it just seemed a little odd to me, but I suppose we are only talking about 100 metres of wiring against the wiring of the whole line. Kinda makes sense I guess.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Well, it was moved at last this afternoon, after numerous false alarms yesterday and this morning. I had to stay on the other side of the A8 as the whole area was on lockdown (they wouldn't even let their own workers on to the site - I kid you not).

There's a very short film of the bridge being moved here.

Sorry about the quality but the wind was howling and shoogling the camera which had to be on a high tripod to see over the thistles. The rain started really p***ing down just as the bridge started to move. It was was so heavy that I couldn't see what I was filming though the raincover on the camera and I was forced to abandon the shoot very quickly.

I might cobble up a longer version when I dry out a bit.

 

[snowball]

(they wouldn't even let their own workers on to the site - I kid you not).

I imagine the transporters will have been controlled and watched over by staff of the specialist subcontractor Mammoet. They seem to be one of two firms who run such transporters, the other one being Abnormal Load Engineering (ALE). I've watched three or four of these jobs and seen videos of several others and it always seems to be one of those two firms.

This job is the biggest one I've seen. How many transporters were used, and how many wheels?

 

[onionjoe76]

Well, it was moved at last this afternoon, after numerous false alarms yesterday and this morning. I had to stay on the other side of the A8 as the whole area was on lockdown (they wouldn't even let their own workers on to the site - I kid you not).

There's a very short film of the bridge being moved here.

Sorry about the quality but the wind was howling and shoogling the camera which had to be on a high tripod to see over the thistles. The rain started really p***ing down just as the bridge started to move. It was was so heavy that I couldn't see what I was filming though the raincover on the camera and I was forced to abandon the shoot very quickly.

I might cobble up a longer version when I dry out a bit.

Excellent. I passed by the site at 3:30 this morning and it was all very busy. Immediately thought of you and hope you had got some footage at some point.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Longer (4 minute) version of the bridge slide day now cobbled up. It would have to be a bad night on the telly to want to watch it, but if you really are that stuck for something to watch, it's here.

 

[onionjoe76]

Onionjoe LIKES this.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Thanks!

I'll try and catch things again when the track is back down. I imagine there will be road/rail vehicles at first to put back the OHLE, then some ballast/track maintenance trains as per Borders railway. Shame I can't get any nearer - I can't filter out the noise of the traffic on the A8.

 

[92002]

Excellent. I passed by the site at 3:30 this morning and it was all very busy. Immediately thought of you and hope you had got some footage at some point.

Track over the new bridge being tamped on Saturday 25th July.

That should allow the OHL to be reinstated.

 

[najaB]

Longer (4 minute) version of the bridge slide day now cobbled up. It would have to be a bad night on the telly to want to watch it, but if you really are that stuck for something to watch, it's here.

Thanks very much for taking the effort to make this.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Track over the new bridge being tamped on Saturday 25th July.

That should allow the OHL to be reinstated.

Both tracks down and OHLE well on the way now. 4 new masts fitted to the bridge itself and others replaced. Should be ready for the 0554 Motherwell - Milngavie on Monday.

Thanks very much for taking the effort to make this.

Thanks!

 

[Carntyne]

Works are bang on time. ^^

 

[PaxVobiscum]

More excuses: I had grand plans for getting up to film the first train at 0505, but the weather was rubbish again so I could only be bothered with filming the first passenger train over the bridge on my phone in the rain at just after six o'clock.

I was hoping to capture the sound of the train over the bridge with proper audio gear but I'm fed up drying out my furry covers. I'll never make a real enthusiast. Train going over bridge.