Steel beams for Third Don Crossing arrive in Aberdeen

18 June 2015

Huge steel beams for the £18million Third Don Crossing have arrived in Aberdeen.

The 60-tonne beams were transported to the site at Grandholm Village on the north side of the River Don on 18 June.

They arrived after a 27-hour journey from Darlington in County Durham with a Police Scotland escort for the last part through Aberdeen.

Other pieces are arriving over the next few days and once they are all on site, an 800-tonne crane will lift and swing them out over the River Don before the Balfour Beatty team secure them in place.

The lifting operations for the steel beams are scheduled for the middle of next month (July), subject to weather.

Once they are delivered to the site, the beams will be temporarily supported approximately 2.5m in mid-air using steel supports. This will allow for welding and painting operations, and a tent/scaffold will be erected around them to facilitate the works and limit noise.

Finance, Policy and Resources Committee Vice-Convener Councillor Ross Thomson said: "It's fantastic to see the beams arrive and people will see real progress is being made on the bridge.

"It's a historic moment for the city and will make a huge difference for people getting about, particularly for those who live on the north side of the river."

The Third Don Crossing will see the construction of a new single carriageway link road between the Parkway/Whitestripes Road junction and the Tillydrone Avenue/St Machar Drive junctions, including the construction of the new bridge.

Work started in November 2014 and the contract completion date has been extended to January 2016. Construction firm Balfour Beatty is the main contractor for the site.