Extensive refurbishment of Kessock cable stayed bridge across the Beauly Firth is to be carried out by Balfour Beatty under a £13.2M contract from Transport Scotland. Swiss surfacing technology will be employed following successful application of Gussasphalt elsewhere in Britain. Use of the material at Kessock, the client believes, should tackle issues that have dogged the Scottish structure. The bridge’s liveliness and susceptibility to thermal movement means it requires an exceptional surfacing for this not to debond.

Kessock bridge carries the A9 north from Inverness to the Black Isle. The six lane structure is 1056m long and has two twin arrays of cable stays supporting its 240m long central span. Its deck is relatively thin and Highlands’ temperature differentials can be high – hence the challenge to find an asphalt that will stay put. Gussasphalt provides flexibility, durability and an outstandingly smooth ride – as evidenced by its performance on England’s Avonmouth bridge.

Balfour Beatty’s contract will be carried out in two phases, from February to June this year, and over the same period in 2014, to avoid disruption to traffic during the tourist season. Beyond resurfacing the work includes waterproofing, replacement of deck expansion joints and the retensioning of cable stays to support the additional weight of Gussasphalt. Balfour Beatty’s managing director in Scotland Murray Easton says: “We have extensive experience of working on complex bridge projects...and will draw on this to carry out the contract.”

• Balfour Beatty has also been awarded a long term contract to manage and maintain trunk roads in the south west of Scotland. The contract has a total potential value of £125M plus.

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