Works are well underway in preparation for the centenary bridge celebrations to be held on December 15.
Improvements completed to date include repairs to the kerb where the old inner handrail posts came out, modifications to the footpath and traffic island on the Leamington end of the bridge, the painting of the timber railing on the Leamington approach, repairs to the carriageway pavement on the Cambridge end of the bridge, and the planting of the sloping earth faces on the approaches to the bridge.
Designs have also been completed and an instruction for construction has been issued for the new overhead height restriction sign on the Cambridge approach.
Tasks to be completed in the next 4-6 weeks include water blasting of the kerb, footpath and inner and outer handrails; clearing of drainage scuppers, the straightening and tightening of the inner handrail parts, repainting of the inner handrail, touch-up painting of the outer handrail, resurfacing of the footpaths, water blasting and painting over of the graffiti on both abutments, and the installation of the new height restriction sign.
While these remaining tasks are being completed, periodic closures of the bridge to vehicles will be required, although pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use it. The bridge maintenance contractor will be placing notification signs on the bridge approaches to let the public know of upcoming closure dates and times.
Although a lot of the work is weather-dependent, a total completion date of December 3 has been set.
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