Lifeline bridge replacement scheme gets under way

Work begins this week on the first of two phases of improvements which will remove a 7.5 Tonnes weight restriction on the Letters to Loggie road on Lochbroom-side, near Ullapool.

Two bridges are being replaced in a £400,000 first phase of work and a further two will be replaced in a second phase, programmed for next year.

The C14M road carried by the bridges is the only access to the Lochbroom community and, with no diversion route available, part of the bridge replacement work will have to be carried out during a period of complete road closure.

The road will be closed from 6am on Monday 5 June and is expected to reopen before 30 June.

In close co-operation with community representatives, the Council is providing temporary footbridges at the bridge construction sites, a shuttle bus service, temporary car parking for residents and alternative arrangements for waste collection and school transport.

The contractor for the first phase of works is Mowlem plc.

Local Highland Councillor Jean Urquhart said: “This is great news for the community that the work had been given such a high priority by the Council and is going ahead earlier than most of us were expecting.  The four bridges provide a lifeline to the community.  I hope that phase two can be carried out at the earliest possible opportunity.”