In November 2011 Millar Callaghan were asked to quote for the design and build of a new aluminium platform to wrap around the Jubilee Tower on the south side of the Forth Rail Bridge, along with two steel staircases, to allow access to and from the new aluminium platform.
We presented the client with our design and supporting calculations for the new structure. When the designs were approved by the client our Irvine workshop went in to full production of the new steel and aluminium structures.
Access was provided by suspending temporary working platforms from the top of the Jubilee Tower. This allowed our installation team to core into the granite blocks and install anchor fixings with chemical resin, which supported the new aluminium cantilevered brackets. When the chemical resin had cured, pull-tests were carried out on each bolt to ensure that the fixing was suitable to take the load from the new platform.
All materials were transported to the work location during the night to avoid any disruption to the rail service. New hangers and brackets were welded to the existing steel structure to accept the new steel stairs and platforms.
When the site erection was complete, the aluminium platform was secured to the granite tower but did not touch the steel platforms and stairs. This avoided any vibrations from the passing trains being transferred from the steel stairs into the aluminium platform and into the tower.
