AN £800,000 renovation programme is about to begin at Castlecary Viaduct, which carries the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line over the M80.

Over the next two months, engineers will be working both inside and suspended from the 10 arches of the listed viaduct, near Cumbernauld, as they undertake essential repairs to the stone and steelwork.

Drivers are warned to expect delays as the work means road closures.

The renovation programme, which begins on August 31, is being carried out as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP).

As previously told in the Evening Times, EGIP will see the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line electrified by 2016, and this autumn engineers will be working to install new infrastructure on the viaduct to carry electric power cables over the structure.

Electrification of the line, which is part of £742m Scottish Government-funded investment in Central Scotland’s rail network, will see the introduction of quicker, quieter and greener electric trains on the route.

Owen Ferry, project manager for Network Rail, said “Working on the viaduct represents an unusual engineering challenge in that it is both working at height and in confined spaces where there are deep voids which represent different hazards.

“We rely on experienced specialist engineers to make sure this work is delivered safely and to a high standard. Given their experience working across similar structures, we are confident that they will fully meet this challenge.

“As Castlecary Viaduct is listed, we are working with the relevant local authorities to make sure the work is planned and delivered sympathetically with minimal impact on this superb Victorian structure and minimal disruption for local residents and motorists.”

A range of environmental and ecological surveys have been carried out, including investigations for bats and nesting birds.

As the teams are working at height, designated exclusion zones are required at the base of the structure during work.

As several of the viaduct’s spans sit above the M80, this has created the need for some overnight lane and road closures and other traffic management measures:

The majority of work on the structure will be carried out during nightshift between the hours of 8pm and 6am.

During full closures of the road, motorists should exit the M80 at Haggs divert through Kilsyth and rejoin at Auchenkilins.

For further information and updates see Twitter handle @NetworkRailScot