Taziker Industrial has been named as the primary contractor for a three-year refurbishment of the Victorian roof on Bristol Temple Meads station that will bring it back to its former glory.
In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, the £24 million contract is good news for the economy with around 75 full-time workers expected onsite at the peak of the project, including apprentices that will be recruited locally.
Previously, Taziker has renovated such iconic structures as the Iron Bridge, which was opened in 1781 and was the world’s first cast-iron bridge, at Ironbridge in Shropshire. It has also repaired and renovated the Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol and the Royal Albert Bridge in Plymouth.
At Temple Meads, as well as refreshing the roof for a cleaner, brighter experience for passengers, work on the Grade I listed structure will protect it from further deterioration for future generations. It will involve extensive metal and woodwork repairs and the complete re-glazing of the roof and canopies.
This is the first major refurbishment of the station roof in over 25 years and is due for completion in 2023.
This project on the roof is just part of a wider programme railway upgrades to the historic station. Other work includes the remodelling of a crucial junction just outside the station and a complete rewire of the station’s electrical system.
In addition, and in collaboration with the West of England Combined Authority, a new station entrance will be created that will offer access to a new University of Bristol campus and the east of the city.
Network Rail’s Western route director Mike Gallop said: “This is a great moment for Bristol and the whole West of England as we will be providing a brighter station for passengers, worthy of the original creator, Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
“We’re ambitious about our plans for the railway in the city, and this is just the first step in providing a world-class station to enable more people to get to their jobs and encouraging more investment in the area.”
Taziker business development director Tom Nicotra added: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work on another of Brunel’s masterpieces and have experience working on landmarks including Bristol’s iconic Clifton Suspension bridge and the Royal Albert bridge in Plymouth.
“We understand the special place that these pieces of infrastructure hold in the hearts of local communities. They represent a gateway to the history of the area and a living place of the city’s heritage. We look forward to restoring this fantastic piece of Victorian engineering.”
1 Trackback / Pingback