M8 Woodside Viaduct repairs: EIR release

Information requested

You asked for information related to the repairs to the M8 at the Woodside Viaduct. 

1) I’m aware you shared a projected cost for the project on 29 May 2024. This quoted the projected costs to be within the £126-£152 million range.

a) Please share the total cost spent on repairs and design consultations to the most recent date possible.

b) Please share the current estimation for the cost of the temporary propping stage

c) Please share the current estimation for the cost of the overall project

2) Is the temporary propping now expected to be completed by the “early 2026” estimate previously stated?

a) If not, what is the new estimate?

3) Do you anticipate the half joint which was damaged ever being fully repaired to the extent that all works can cease on that section?

4) What are the traffic management contingency plans for a situation where propping/load management can never be removed from that section of the motorway?

Response

For ease of reference, I will answer each of your questions in turn using the numbering in your request.

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.

1) I’m aware you shared a projected cost for the project on 29 May 2024. This quoted the projected costs to be within the £126-£152 million range.

a) Please share the total cost spent on repairs and design consultations to the most recent date possible.

The cost range referenced is for the temporary propping contract. To date £101,647,262.94 has been spent on the design and construction of the temporary propping.

b) Please share the current estimation for the cost of the temporary propping stage

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 cost of the temporary propping stage is not yet known as recent investigations are still ongoing. As such, a current estimation is still being compiled.

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 the temporary propping works are Woodside Viaduct, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

c) Please share the current estimation for the cost of the overall project

The current estimation for the cost of the overall project including the permanent works is unknown. Technical Advisers have been appointed for the permanent works and, as part of their remit, they will develop a cost estimate for these works. For the avoidance of doubt these will be in addition to those for the temporary propping contract.

2) Is the temporary propping now expected to be completed by the “early 2026” estimate previously stated?

The estimated completion date of the temporary propping works is currently under review.

a) If not, what is the new estimate?

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 propping works is currently under review.

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 the temporary propping works are Woodside Viaduct, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

3) Do you anticipate the half joint which was damaged ever being fully repaired to the extent that all works can cease on that section?

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 Technical Advisers have been appointed for the permanent works and, as part of their remit, they will develop and assess options for the Woodside Viaducts.

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 the temporary propping works are Woodside Viaduct, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

4) What are the traffic management contingency plans for a situation where propping/load management can never be removed from that section of the motorway?

Under the terms of the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held), the 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 current project is designed to develop the removal of these restrictions. As such, there are no contingency plans for a situation where propping/load management can never be removed.

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 the temporary propping works are Woodside Viaduct, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.