CONTRACT AWARDED FOR GOUROCK LINKSPAN REPAIR PROJECT
Work to extend the life of the linkspan at Gourock Ferry Terminal is set to commence next month following the award of a £1.2 million construction contract.
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), which owns Gourock Ferry Terminal, has awarded the contract to civil engineering firm, George Leslie Limited. The contractor will carry out repairs to the linkspan support structures and replace the steel deck and associated mechanical and electrical equipment.
Work is scheduled to begin on 5 October and complete on 23 December, subject to weather conditions, and includes a nine-week closure period for the linkspan from 19 October to 18 December. CMAL will endeavour to reduce the closure period, where possible.
The linkspan closure will impact the ferry services which use Gourock both as a primary berth and as an alternative mainland port. It is expected that Dunoon and Kilcreggan services will operate to Gourock Boat Steps and this will require small amendments to timetable. Service continuity planning is ongoing and plans will be published by CalMac as soon as possible.
CMAL has re-estimated the total cost of the project at £2 million, a £500,000 reduction on the original estimate of £2.5 million due to an applied value engineering process.
When the project is completed, the new linkspan will be able to carry vehicles, meaning Gourock will be available as an alternative mainland port for vehicle services.
Paul Colenso, senior civil engineer at CMAL, said:
“Ferry passengers will no doubt be pleased to learn that this construction work is set to get underway soon. We know passengers travelling to and from Gourock have been inconvenienced due to age-related issues with the linkspan.
“The infrastructure is old and will benefit from being replaced, but in the meantime, these life-extending measures will improve the resilience of the linkspan until a new one is built as part of the terminal redevelopment.
“We recognise a nine-week closure period will present some challenges for passengers and we intend to make every effort to reduce the closure period, if it’s possible to do so during construction.”
CMAL will provide milestone updates throughout the project and will be available on CMAL’s website.
CMAL is progressing options for the redevelopment of Gourock Ferry Terminal as part of an overall project to deliver a modern, reliable and resilient lifeline passenger ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon.
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