The £20m job for Network Rail will see 70,000 sq m of wrought iron, cast iron and steel stripped back to the bare metal and a new weather resistant glass epoxy based paint applied to preserve the bridge for future generations. The current contract will run to 2012, however, we don’t expect the entire project to be completed until 2016.

The current contracts will take the total investment in the refurbishment of the Tay Bridge in the last ten years to £53m. Last year, Network Rail announced that it would complete the painting of the Forth Bridge in 2012, with similar work not required again for 30 years. A similar long term preservation is anticipated on the Tay Bridge.