Work on the V&A at Dundee is progressing “absolutely perfectly”, according to project chiefs.
The claim came as the £80.1m project marked a major milestone on Tuesday the completion of the cofferdam, a temporary watertight structure built around the protruding part of the museum.
The V&A Dundee team also revealed they had a “good sense” of what their opening exhibition programme would be when the museum opens in 2018 and that local workers are already playing a key role in the construction.
The cofferdam was completed at the end of May, ahead of the June 1 date where the summer embargo of works on the river begins to avoid any impact on the harbour seal breeding season.
Doug Keillor, regional director of BAM Construction in Scotland, said: “It’s going very well, absolutely perfectly. The team’s doing a very good job, we’re meeting all of our programme dates.”
Dundee City Council administration leader Councillor Ken Guild, council city development director Mike Galloway and V&A Dundee director Philip Long were taken on a guided tour of the site today by Mr Keillor.
Mr Guild said: “This is significant progress on a nationally-important project to provide a unique and stunning building.
A sneak peek at work being carried out at the V&A Dundee site. pic.twitter.com/xSKmnkFkj7
— David McCann (@C_DMcCann) June 23, 2015
“I am delighted to see that the construction of V&A Dundee is proceeding apace and people will really take notice when tower cranes move on to the site later this summer.”
Mr Long added: “We are thrilled at the progress and pace of work in the first three months of construction. The project really comes to life when you see the form of the building marked out on site.
“It will be hugely exciting for all of us to watch its striking physical shape emerge over the coming months and years up to opening.”
The first tower crane will be erected on site in July, with the second and third following in August.
That month, the skyline will begin to change as the internal concrete core walls of the buildings are constructed. Work on the external concrete walls starts in September.
Nearly 30 job opportunities for young people have already been created at the site. These include new starts by people who were previously unemployed, redundant or who have completed registered training programmes, as well as graduate and apprenticeship opportunities.
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