MET Office forecasts are playing a vital role in keeping the construction of the new Queensferry Crossing road bridge on schedule and construction workers safe.
With the help of detailed forecast weather information the construction consortium, Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors, is able to keep the project running efficiently and manage any weather-related health and safety risks on site more effectively.
The construction programme faces many weather challenges, from gales and ice to fog reducing visibility as it rolls in from the North Sea.
Ken Clarke, Marine Liaison Officer for the FCBC, said, “Almost everything we do out on the waters of the Forth is weather dependent, so it is vitally important – not least to the health and safety of our construction personnel – that we have dependable, accurate and site-specific forecasts.”
Aware of the challenges faced due to the weather, the Met Office continues to work with FCBC to help them mitigate the impacts on the construction plan and build.
Virtual Met Mast gave detailed information on the climate of the build site before construction work commenced, which enabled the construction design team to evaluate and refine its structural designs to best mitigate any impact of the weather. The five-day site-specific forecast gives the construction team a detailed weather synopsis allowing them to plan activity with confidence.
And the web-based planning tool WeatherWindows helps plan weather dependent tasks and efficiently plan the hire of large, expensive equipment, up to 15 days ahead. The project is on track to see the new bridge open to traffic by the end of 2016 when it will replace the current Forth Road Bridge as the main crossing for cross-Forth traffic.
