Progress on Council Road Bridges

Highland Councillors have welcomed progress being made in upgrading and replacing road bridges on the Council’s lifeline road network and agreed that every effort must be made to identify funding for further essential works.

Over the last three years,  20 bridges have been or are being replaced or upgraded, at a cost of around £4.25million. The majority of these have been directly funded by the Council, through its Bridge Structural Works Programme. A number, however, have been within recent major road improvement schemes, such as the A851 Broadford to Armadale, in Skye and the A832 Achnasheen to Kinlochewe in Wester Ross. These schemes have benefited from European funding assistance.

Members also considered proposals for further, essential bridge works in the coming years. These include the need for replacement of Muir of Ord Railway Bridge, Naver Bridge and Invercoe Bridge as well as the repair and upgrading of Bonar Bridge and Kyle of Tongue Bridge. These are major schemes which will require funding beyond what is currently available.

Councillor Charlie King, Chairman of the TEC Services Committee, said: “Members appreciate the good work that is going on throughout the Highlands in upgrading and replacing road bridges, many of which  provide lifeline links to communities.  It is essential we identify the funds to continue the good progress we are making.”

Meanwhile, the Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community (TEC) Services has awarded a £400,000 contract to RJ MacLeod Contractor Ltd for the replacement of a road bridge just north of Ullapool on the A835.

Allt an t-Strathain bridge, which is between Morefield and Ardmair, is one of four substandard bridges on the A835 that is scheduled for replacement in the Council’s capital programme.

It is anticipated that works will commence at the beginning of next month.