The largest concrete pour so far has taken place on the Trams to Newhaven project. This latest significant milestone in the project saw 130 cubic metres of concrete poured on the bridge deck of Tower Bridge on Ocean Drive. The pour was undertaken by main contractors, Sacyr Farrans Neopul (SFN) and took approximately eight hours to complete earlier in July.
The pour involved sixteen operatives from subcontractor Beattie’s FRC and included nineteen separate loads of concrete used, equalling approximately 130 cubic metres and 500m2 of finishing works were also undertaken. It was a dual pour of 82 metres, with two concrete pumps, which equated to 164 linear metres of single-track slab having been poured.
Now that this pour has been concluded hard landscaping jobs over Tower Bridge – which is sure to become a popular spot for photography – will start and then more track will be laid towards Tower Place.
Maria Ortega, SFN Project Director, said: “We continue to make excellent progress on this project on behalf of our client The City of Edinburgh Council and this concrete pour milestone is our latest major achievement. A concrete pour may look like a simple task from the outside, however there are so many different disciplines involved to ensure that it is undertaken in a safe and timely manner to deliver a high-quality end product. As contractors, SFN has brought extensive experience in the light rail sector to this project. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we are proud of the progress we have made by working successfully alongside our partners, supply chain and client. We look forward to this line being operational in spring 2023.”
Cllr Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “Delivering a major project like this in the centre of Scotland’s Capital does come with its challenges and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their continued patience and support, and also apologise for any inconvenience. This is a key milestone for Trams to Newhaven and marks the team’s move into the final phase of construction. The route is really beginning to take shape and I look forward to the benefits it will bring when it is running in just under one year’s time. I’d like to thank the team for all they are doing to deliver this contract on time despite the impact of the pandemic”