Network Rail has announced the creation of 75 new jobs as part of a £20m contract to help restore the Tay Bridge, the longest bridge on Britain's rail network and a vital link to the north east of Scotland.

Speaking at the Scottish Transport Conference at Edinburgh's Caledonian Hotel yesterday, Ron McAulay, Network Rail’s director Scotland, outlined the details of the three-year contract which will see contractors Palmers ThyssenKrupp Ltd tasked with accelerating the current schedule of works.

Mr McAulay said: "The Tay Bridge has seen ongoing works to restore it to its original glory, however, this latest contract will allow us to significantly increase the pace of the refurbishment. We will be increasing the number of men employed on the bridge from 25 to approximately 100.

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"The contract will see 70,000m2 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, the entire project is not expected to be completed until 2016.

The grit blasting and painting processes being used on the Tay Bridge are similar to those currently put to use on the Forth Bridge, however the Tay Bridge presents its own unique challenges, with exposed conditions, strong tides and little in the way of on-site shelter for workers carrying out the vital works.

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.

(GK/JM)