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A1 Haddington to Dunbar Expressway official opening ceremony

Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Limited commenced work on this £34.2m design and construct contract in summer 2002 for The Scottish Executive and their Engineer for the works Carl Bro. Balfour Beatty’s designer for the project was Scott Wilson Scotland Limited.

Commenting today, on the opening of this major addition to Scotland’s trunk road network, Alistair Wivell, Group Managing Director, Balfour Beatty plc said, “This project is a further example of the type of technically demanding civil engineering projects which Balfour Beatty is well known for and it is a credit to all those who have been involved in bringing this to a successful conclusion.

“It is hoped that this will bring benefit to both the local community of East Lothian and further a field and will make a positive contribution to road safety to all who will use this road now and in the future.”

The project comprised the design and construction of 13.7km. of dual two-lane carriageway together with twelve principle structures and 6.5km. of side roads, between the existing A1 Abbotsview Interchange, Northeast of Haddington and the new Thistly Cross Roundabout to the Southwest of Dunbar.

The most significant feature of the project is the new crossing of the river Tyne near East Linton. This bridge is one of the largest and most complex structures built in Scotland in recent years. At 220m long and some 25m above the river this reinforced concrete, voided deck, post tensioned structure on a curved alignment presented the design and construct team with a significant challenge. The temporary works materials involved in the construction of the new bridge required the largest and most complex scaffold structure used in Scotland to date with over 250,000 separate components, which if placed end on end would stretch for over 250 km. This itself is an impressive feat of civil engineering.

The works also included the excavation of over 1.1m cubic metres and placing of 620,000 cubic metres of earthworks materials, the placing of 17,000 cubic metres of structural concrete, 76,000 metres of drainage, 315,000 square metres of surfacing and the planting of over 450,000 plants.

Enquiries to:
Marjorie Hooper
Tel: 0207 216 6883

John Andrew
Tel: 0131 311 5276
www.balfourbeatty.com

Notes to Editors

Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Limited is Balfour Beatty’s principle civil engineering business with an annual turnover of £500m. BBCEL undertakes both major projects and the regional UK wide operation through its Civil Engineering Division.

Current projects in progress by the division throughout the UK include:

• 10 year maintenance framework for BAA in Scotland
  
• Replacement of Montrose Bridge
  
• Framework for Northumbrian Water in North East England
  
• Marine Parade Bridge, Southport
  
• Drome Corner, Deeside for Highways Agency

Current projects in progress throughout Central Scotland include:

• A8 Baillieston to Newhouse Major Maintenance
  
• M77/Glasgow Southern Orbital DBFO Project
  
• West Edinburgh Busway Scheme
  
• Forth Bridge Refurbishment
  
• Hunterston ILW Store