The £1.2 million project to carry out significant repairs and refurbishment on the 52 metre long bridge at Ballure is progressing well. Around 75% of steelwork repairs have been completed while the whole structure has been cleaned by grit blasting and painted with high integrity marine-standard coating . Painting of the top coat has commenced to the upper deck area of the bridge. And new tracks across the main road have been installed.
The Manx parliament has voted in favour of the £1,285,000 plan to make the necessary permanent repairs to Ballure Bridge back in October. The vote secured the future of the northern section of the MER, and a scheme to 'mothball' the line north of Laxey was averted.
The works involve all rail carrying timbers being replaced and the installation of new rails and safety guard rails.
The 52-metre long bridge towers up to 16 metres above Ballure Glen. It was built between 1897 and 1899 and the riveted metal fabrication bridge was last repainted in 1981. Following an inspection in 2010, parts were found to be carrying up to 90% of their safe load during the passage of a standard MER tram. A number of timbers that support the rails on top of metal girders were renewed in 2011 and others in 2013 on safety grounds.
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