The Design of the Refurbishment of the M8 White Cart Viaduct, Glasgow

Abstract

<p>The M8 White Cart Viaduct was designed and constructed in accordance with the Department of Transport (DOT) and British Standards of the time and was opened to traffic in March 1968. It is one of the most important major bridges in Scotland, carrying more than 90,000 vehicles a day. However, following an unfavourable assessment of the bridge in 2001, the Scottish Executive Development Department (SEDD now Transport Scotland (TS)) engaged Scott Wilson Scotland Limited (since acquired by URS) to develop a phased refurbishment strategy to upgrade the bridge. The refurbishment proposals included the replacement of the parapets, replacement of the expansion joints, waterproofing, resurfacing, and strengthening of the steel box girders. This paper describes the design of the refurbishment works, particularly the steel box girder strengthening including the replacement of the vulnerable half-joints.</p>