A multi-million pound project to improve the Forth Bridge will get underway shortly, with a section of the structure to be repainted.
Balfour Beatty will carry out a range of refurbishment works to the north approach span on the 130-year-old structure.
This section of the bridge carries the railway over North Queensferry, and Network Rail say it will be repainted with the same "glass-flake epoxy paint system" used in the decade-long restoration of the bridge completed in 2011.
Engineers will soon erect a protective scaffold casing along the span before grit-blasting the old paint off the steelwork. The metal will be repaired and repainted, and this work should ensure the steel won't need to be painted again for up to 20 years.
Other works to be carried out include maintenance and monitoring of the bridge bearings, refurbishment of staff welfare facilities and refurb works on the Inchgarvie lighthouse.
Network Rail confirm there won't be any knock-on disruption to train services, with director of engineering and asset management Alan Ross saying: "The Forth Bridge has been a key part of Scotland’s Railway for over a century and this work on the approach spans to the famous structure is vital to ensure we continue to maintain a safe and reliable railway.
“Balfour Beatty have been supporting our restoration and maintenance programmes on the bridge for two decades and will bring a wealth of experience to this latest project.
“We are also committed to delivering this vital investment in Scotland’s Railway with a minimum of disruption to the local community and without interrupting train services.”
Colin Hardie, regional construction superintendent for Balfour Beatty's Scotland and Ireland business, said: "Our expert team takes great pride in restoring a structure with such global significance and we look forward to beginning the new refurbishment works so that Forth Bridge can be enjoyed by the many for generations to come."
The work is being carried out as part of the five-year, £4bn investment in Scotland's railway by Network Rail.
