Progress continues on the M74 Completion project with the successful erection of beams at Glasgow Road underbridge.

The operation took place over two weekends in October and November using a crane to place the 39 precast concrete beams onto the structure.

Placed end to end, the beams used to construct the bridge would fit down both sides of Rutherglen Main Street.

Work was carried out in three stages with each of the side spans being constructed first using a total of twenty beams, each almost 23 metres long.

The beams to form the central span, which passes over Glasgow Road, were then craned into place.

Each of the nineteen beams required for this central span are almost 34 metres in length and 1.6 metres deep.

The Glasgow Road underbridge is one of thirteen bridges along the route of the new motorway and will carry the M74 over Glasgow Road.

The bridge is supported at each end by reinforced concrete abutments and at two intermediate points by reinforced concrete columns.

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Now that the beams are in place, the reinforced concrete deck will be cast on top of the beams over the coming months. Thereafter, parapet construction and bridge deck waterproofing will be carried out, followed soon after by tarmac road construction.

Dominic Murphy, Project Manager for Transport Scotland, the major funder for the project on behalf of the Scottish government, commented on the progress: "I am pleased that Interlink M74 JV's work to erect the beams at Glasgow Road went smoothly and, despite the inclement weather, was completed well within schedule.

"Residents in the Rutherglen area will be seeing real progress on the M74 Completion, particularly at each of the bridges at Rutherglen Station, Glasgow Road and Cambuslang Road, in the coming months. The side span beams for the Cambuslang Road bridge are due to be erected later this month and Glasgow Road underbridge is scheduled for completion in autumn 2010.

"The M74 Completion will reduce traffic from the local roads in the Rutherglen area alleviating congestion, improving air quality and reducing the number of accidents. On a wider scale it will provide significant benefits, both economic and social, to businesses, communities and industry throughout the West of Scotland."

Chair of South Lanarkshire Council's Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Chris Thompson, said: "The progress being made on the M74 is fantastic and people can really begin to see the completion project taking shape before their eyes.

"A huge amount of credit has to be given to the contractor, Interlink M74 JV, for managing to erect the beams despite the terrible weather conditions they were faced with.

"The completion of the M74 will bring with it huge benefits to people throughout the west of Scotland."

(GK/KMcA)