A 13-month £6m project to strengthen the 160-year-old Camps viaduct on the line between Glasgow and Motherwell in Scotland has been completed.

Camps Viaduct has 11 spans and stands in ancient woodland 35m above the River Clyde.

Working with Story Contracting, Network Rail started extensive strengthening and refurbishment of the viaduct in spring 2023.

In total, 1,370 repairs were made, including replacing more than 10,000 rivets and adding 65 tonnes of new steel.

As well as refurbishing the viaduct, essential scour protection work was also carried out to both the east and west banks of the Clyde, which included the installation of over 800 tonnes of rock armour.

To minimise disruption to the riverbed while carrying out the scour and masonry repairs, pontoons were built in the river so that work could be done safely during work on the riverbed and underwater.

To protect the surrounding environment and the River Clyde, which flows underneath, from dust or pollution, the viaduct was encapsulated and sealed while work on the structure was taking place.

At the start of the project, mats made from Cellweb®TRP were laid on the ground to help protect the roots of the trees, soil, and other fauna in the ancient woodland.

Elsewhere in Scotland, the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct in the West Highlands is to undergo a multi-million pound refurbishment.

Before the project started, the project team sought advice from experts, including ecologists, park rangers, and ornithologists on the best way to deter birds from nesting during the work.

Acting on their recommendations, netting was installed on the viaduct.

There are also specific protected species in the area, and for these, an alternative nesting basket was provided by tree climbing teams, winching it up to the tallest tree in the woodland.

It’s great to see the work at Camps viaduct complete. The £6m project has helped strengthen the structure for years to come but it’s so much more than that.

There has been a lot of planning to make sure the project was carried out efficiently while causing as little disruption to the people who live nearby and minimising disturbance to the surrounding land, riverbed, and the wildlife that make the woodland their home.

Work of this kind will not be needed for at least another 25 years. With a stronger bridge, we can help keep communities connected by continuing to run a safe and reliable railway.

Mark Wilson, Network Rail senior programme manager