Kingston Bridge Repairs - Woodside Viaduct: EIR release

Information requested

It is an absolute disgrace how long it is taking to complete repairs to the Kingston bridge, causing inconvenience to 100s of 1000s of people. I want some answers under FOI.

1. At outset of project, what was projected completion date?

2. What is the projected completion date now?

3. At outset of project, what was projected total cost?

4. What is the projected total cost now?

5. If projected time and cost is higher than initially expected, why is this?

Response

As the information you have requested is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

Thank you for your email, however, as there are currently no works ongoing at the Kingston Bridge, we assume you are referring to the works at the M8 Woodside Viaducts situated close by.

To aid my response I have retained the numbering from your request above:

1. Due to the emergency nature of the works, from the outset when restrictions were implemented on the M8, the project’s programme was under development as the extent of the work required was yet to be defined. A very high-level estimate indicated that the propping works may be completed in 9 to 12 months. However, this estimate did not include time or cost allowances for the bespoke design work required for each of the 23 individual propping locations or for the foundation works, utility protection or diversion works and the impact of material supply shortages.

2. The information you have requested is available from the following news release issued today: https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/m8-woodside-viaducts/. Under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

3. The information you have requested is available from a previous request as follows: Costs of investigative and remedial works on M8 Junction 16 and 17 (Woodside Viaduct). However, these costs were subject to change based on the investigation works required to define the project’s scope and did not include any contingency, risk or allowance for inflation. Under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

4. The information you have requested is available from the following news release issued today: https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/m8-woodside-viaducts/. Under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Under the terms of the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held), Transport Scotland is not required to provide information which it does not have. We do not have some of the information you have requested because the estimated costs for the permanent repair works is currently under development and is currently unknown.

This exception is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information about repair costs to the Woodside Viaduct, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

5. The extension to the project programme is as a result of the complexity of the design that is required to develop 23 bespoke temporary propping systems, extensive enabling works required to prop the viaducts that was realised during the design and assessment process, and external approvals required for works to take place in the vicinity of public utilities. Each location requires bespoke propping solutions to reflect factors including differing geometry and heights, ground conditions and the extent and type of utilities. This has resulted in more complex design, construction requiring larger volumes of materials than originally envisaged and third party approvals taking longer than anticipated – all contributing to an extension of the propping timeline to early 2026 and associated costs. Additionally, the project has seen material cost increases as a result of wider economic factors that impact the construction supply chain.

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