The largest concrete pour to date has taken place on the project to connect Edinburgh Trams from York Place to Newhaven.
Main contractors, joint venture Sacyr Farrans Neopul (SFN), stated that they remain on schedule for the line to be in operation by next spring.
The project is currently working in 12 separate sections across the route and the concrete pour took place on the bridge deck of Tower Bridge on Ocean Drive.
Taking approximately eight hours to complete, the pour involved 16 operatives from subcontractor Beattie’s FRC, 19 loads of concrete - which equated to approximately 130 cubic metres - and 500 metres squared of finishing works were undertaken.
Landscaping works over Tower Bridge will now commence, as well as further track works progressing eastwards towards Tower Place.
Construction on Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven commenced in November 2019. The full scheme is valued at £207.3m and the 4.7km route will have eight stops.
The construction of the new line will include 4.69km of track, with improvements to public realm along the route, which runs from York Place down through Leith Walk, Constitution Street, Ocean Terminal and then finishes at Newhaven.
To date, 84% of track slab has been laid - almost 4,000m - with all necessary utility diversions carried out and main construction work completed on three new tram stops at Constitution Street, McDonald Road and Ocean Terminal. SFN has also installed 74 overhead equipment poles - 35% of the total along the route - and more than 4,000m of drainage infrastructure.
Maria Ortega, SFN project director, said: “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.
“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.”
Steve Jackson, project director with Turner & Townsend, said: “This is the third major concrete pour to take place on the project following the laying of track on one half of the busy thoroughfare on Leith Walk in February.”
Councillor Scott Arthur, transport and environment convener, added: “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.”
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